If you are looking for good Chinese food, this is the place you want to go to. It's small and I really liked the way its decorated. The service was a little slow as previous reviewers stated but, not enough to bother my family. Plus everyone was very friendly. We ordered Mongolian Beef, Garlic Sauce Pork and Sweet and Sour Chicken The food we ordered was delicious! Tasted as if it was made fresh to order - which is so unusual for American Chinese food. In fact, all the food I saw delivered to other patrons, looked delicious. My advice to you is don't go to Veekoo or PF Changs or Wegman's chinese buffet... Go to Han Dynasty - you can thank me later. Ps the background music, while we ate, was top hits from Disney animated movies (like the Lion King) kinda funny...
I have mixed feelings about this location. On the one hand, when the food is on here, it's really on. The every-second-Tuesday-of-the-month tastings, for instance, are a fantastic way to spend an evening, and in busy periods like Saturday night, you will generally get great and unique-in-the-area food. The problem is the rest of the time. Frankly, you are taking your chances ordering other days. For instance, today, a Thursday, we ordered from here. I prefer the authentic food, and my wife prefers the Americanized menu and has a lower heat tolerance, so I tend to order milder dishes: today it was the double cooked pork, along with fried rice for her. The food was amazingly bland. The rice was nearly white (clearly almost no soy used) and had a slight smell of lemon Lysol to it. My pork was mostly fat. I did not recognize any of the workers in the place when I picked up, despite going there tens of times. I wonder if there are turnover issues here. If you are going to patronize a place, you want consistency. I feel like Han's Royersford location is one of the most inconsistent places we go. It's a testament to how good the food can be that we keep coming back, but I really wish he could get, and keep, personnel here that know how to execute his menu. On the flip side, if you want to hit this place at a safe time, try the tasting and bring plenty of wine. It's great.
(2)
Trish S.
Hey! Think you've had good Chinese food? Well you're wrong, sucka! If you live anywhere near me, you MUST go to Han Dynasty in Royersford. Disclaimer: It will positively RUIN you for other Chinese food forever. Sorry. It will also make you realize that the stuff you've been eating is some sad practical joke that has been going on for decades. (Way to go, Chinese people! You totally got us.) If you don't live near me, you should go to one of the other locations in NYC or the greater Philly area. And if you don't go? Well, then you need to ask yourself why you would possibly want to ruin your life like that? You should stop practicing self sabotage and start practicing self love, or some shit like that. I'm pretty sure that's what Oprah would say. Disclaimer #2: They seem to like to play a mix CD of ballads from Disney princess movies. Perplexing.
(5)
George D.
A very good friend loves this place so much that on her visit back to Philadelphia, she diverted our caravan from an expedition to get Indian food to going here. Great choice. The place wasn't packed. Part of that could be that some soul marked this place as closed. No. They were very much open. Many Asians, few other cultural representatives. A friend ordered the Ma Po Tofu. I ordered a pork dish. All of it was fantastic. I will definitely get the tofu dish time. And I'm an unrepentant carnivore. She swears that it's the most authentic she's had since she visited China.
(4)
M J.
It does not hold up to the hype. No food is worth the lousy service and long wait. We (4 people) waited for our dinner for over an hour and the waitress never mentioned their was a delay or an issue. When we asked how much longer she then just avoided our table for another 20 min. We finally got up am left and she did not say a word. Two other tables followed us. I like to support local business but not when they treat you this way because they have a zagat rating on the door.
(1)
Dan K.
Have been here at least a dozen times and have never had a bad meal. The food is delicious and spicy. This is Sichuan cooking nothing like a typical Americanized Chinese food place. It is BYOB as well. Biggest warning I have to people is that once you have this you will never go back to your dull, greasy run of the mill chinese food again.
(5)
Leslie K.
Everything we had was amazing! We dined here for the first time on Tuesday and it was amazing. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. We decided on dan dan noodles, sweet potato cakes, orange chicken, fried rice with shrimp, honey walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, and tea smoked duck. Every dish was delicious and we had leftovers. The smoked duck was especially tasty & tender. Everyone in our party was beyond pleased. Great food, great experience, we'll be back!
(5)
Johana M.
We ordered the following: wontons in chili oil, pork belly in garlic sauce, Dan Dan noodles, dry pot (or something like that) beef, plain noodles for the kids, and ginger ice cream. The wontons were my favorite thing though they could've used a little salt or soy sauce (which wasn't readily available at your table). The Dan Dan noodles were good (my first time eating those). They had a particular spice flavor that I can't exactly explain. I'd order them again. The pork belly I was not into because it was cold (it was under the cold appetizers so I knew this - just wasn't into it). The flavor was good...but I guess I prefer hot food. Also it was similar to the flavor of the wontons except with garlic. The hot pot was good. I wish it had more cilantro and maybe some more notes to the flavor. As the meal progressed EVERYTHING was tasting the same. I was in need of some fresh lemon juice or something sweet or tart... The meal was kind of one note. Everything was tasty just one note. SO next time we plan on ordering smarter. We will order the wontons, Dan Dan noodles (these two had distinct different flavors from each other) and something that is sweet AND spicy. Overall it was a good meal and we will for sure be returning. The kids noodles were good for them :) (good flavor) and the ginger ice cream had little pieces of crystallized ginger. It was a good ending to our meal. Oh and the service was good.
(4)
Sarah J.
So darn good. I'm addicted. I save this for around my birthday every year or a group date night. When we started dating, my guy and I would go here pretty regularly, and have leftovers for two more meals. I try and coax as many people into coming with as possible. If I went more often, I would need to get a better job to handle my habit. Having tried many things on both sides of the menu, I've only really had one thing that I didn't like. I always ask the waiter what they recommend. Our waiter today was helpful and funny, and right on point. Back in the day we would be served by Han himself. youtube him, he is amazing. I will be making reservations for a group to join the monthly tastings. I understand how service could be tough from time to time. Again, maybe one visit in 6 years have we had a problem. Also great for a Monday option when wanting to dine out; in the restaurant biz that was our day off. I feel like if you are willing to taste new foods, and enjoy your eating experience, try a few things and let them know how hot you can handle and you can't go wrong. Order tons of things, eat it family style. Order the Walnut Honey Shrimp. My boyfriend swears by the dan dan noodles, which scare me, but that's ok. Better then average for sure, delivery would more then likely be profitable, but of course would depreciate the quality. Such a good meal tonight!
(5)
Michael P.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Philadelphia area. Firstly there's an actual authentic Chinese menu in addition to a separate menu containing the typical "Americanized" fare. Do yourself a favor and order from the authentic menu. The hot & sour soup is yummy, and the dry pepper chicken is delicious while providing lots of spicy flavor. I'm not familiar with many good options in the Limerick/Royersford area, so whenever my wife and I make a trip to the outlets and need a bite, we'll be sure to top here.
(5)
Chris D.
Han is back and the food is better than ever! Chicken Hot dried pepper, Fish in a dry pot, Dan Dan noodles, Quick fried cucumbers - All are mind blowing. Careful because this can become an addiction. Hi my name is Chris and I am addicted to Hans Sichuan cuisine.
(5)
Joel D.
The food here is great. They have authentic chinese and Americanized. Everyone I have taken love the food. The reason for the two stars is recently I have had two bad experiences. First service was slow and it seemed like they had heat turned off. We all had to keep jackets on. Second time took about 5 min till they even came to seat us. Got seated and given water and then sat for another 10 minutes at which point we left. If you want good food order take from here. But know what you want their website is down and the response when I asked for takeout menu cause internet was down was that they dont have them...
(2)
Nicki A.
If you want AUTHENTIC Chinese food and like to try different things, this is a go-to place for you. Don't go here and order the sesame chicken, not that it won't be good, but there's a reason that and other similar dishes are under the "Americanized" section. The dan-dan noodles are a must every time. It's like an explosion of spicy umami goodness. We also got the squid salt and pepper style, and the pork intestine dry pot. Worth the price. So happy that there is unique food like this around here.
(5)
Julie R.
Picked up my order today and was waited on by Han!! What a nice surprise. He was funny and very nice. I'm so excited to have finally met him. And the food was perfect, as always!
(5)
Prasanna R.
Me and my wife dined here a couple of times and the food was pretty good. First time we visited for lunch. I ordered the 'Ma Po Tofu' and wife ordered the 'Singapore Rice Noodle'. Both were pretty good. The next time we visited for dinner. I ordered the 'General Tso's Fried Tofu' and wife got the 'Vegetable Lo Mein'. Well the vegetable lo mein was decent, I was very disappointed with the quantity of 'General Tso's'. For $12 it is way too tiny. That is why three stars. I would probably visit here again for lunch, not for dinner.
(3)
Greg L.
Stopped in here for dinner per a friends recommendation. It was a Friday evening and the place was pretty empty with only a few other tables filled. Service was friendly and good, although my water glass did sit empty for longer than I would have cared for. The menu consists of American Chinese and authenticate Chinese and we went with the American Chinese We started with the crab wontons, and I liked the fact that there was a decent amount of crab filling in the wontons. My wife and I shared the fried rice with chicken, shrimp, pork. It was a good size portion, but neither of us were overly impressed with the fried rice. It felt like normal rice with some veggies and meats mixed in. My wife went with the pepper steak which she really liked and I went with the sesame chicken, which was also fine. This is probably the first Chinese restaurant I've been to that didn't give you fortune cookies when you got your check. Overall though, a decent restaurant and we will likely be back.
(3)
Wallee W.
Update for 2014. Several recent trips in the past 6 months have been very much unsatisfactory. One time we went as a group, the place was like 50*F inside and service was terrible despite our group being the ONLY ones in the restaurant. Another time I got takeout and arrived 5 mins after the promised ready time and had to wait another 20 mins. The final nail in the coffin was today, I had a big group pick out stuff for a large takeout order for lunch. After herding all of those cats, I call at 11:30 (they open at 11:30), no answer. Call again at 11:35, no answer. 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, same deal. I said f*** it and picked another local Chinese place (which was a major hassle because alot of people picked Szechuan items that aren't standard at Americanized Chinese restaurants) and said so long to Han Dynasty for the foreseeable future. Based on other reviews, it seems these are not isolated incidents. If these guys want to stay in business, they need to focus on the stuff going on outside of the kitchen.
(1)
Paul C.
Had dinner at Han Dynasty over the weekend. A new redesigned menu made it a bit easier to decide. The spicy dishes are numbered from 1-10, 10 being the spicyest Some new items also. The chinese sausage appetizer with sliced garlic was delicious. The Mrs. had chicken with scallions...very tasty! Number 2 son enjoyed his beef lo mein, and i had #7 spicy pork. Very tasty, and yes, 7 is SPICY! Not just hot, very flavorful. The Americanized dishes are still available. A couple sat next to us and asked for a tofu dish not on the menu...the request was gladly accommodated, and when it came out it was beautiful! I had to ask what it was, and the nice couple offered to share some with us. It was fried tofu with dry hot peppers. WOW...it was amazing! They were very happy, and so were we.
(5)
Ben F.
For the hype factor I keep going back hoping things will change. I've tried Royersford and Exton a few times each and I'm done now. The food is bad. The service is horrendous. Its certainly not worth the price. I heard the restaurant underwent management change like 2 years ago. Maybe that is the problem.
(1)
Andrew M.
After careful consideration I will revisit this location. I was not aware that the owner sold the name to someone that ran it into the ground. So in all fairness, I will re-visit it with higher hopes. I have eaten at his other locations and found it to be great, so it pained me to give this location such a bad review. I will go back this weekend and hopefully remove my previous yelp entry.
(3)
Dave S.
He sold it to someone who ran it into the ground and was giving his good name a trashing, but Han is back in RoFo!!! My first experience was amazing, thanks to Han's guidance, and my most recent was mind-blowing...and SPICY!! Still BYOB.
(5)
Diana B.
The service was not good. They forgot my vegetable fried rice and forgot to remove it from the bill. We also waited forever to get service and the Restaurant wasn't even packed. Nonetheless, the food was delicious.
(3)
Anne C.
Best authentic Sichuan style Chinese food in the Norristown area. Their spice rivals that of no other Asian restaurant in the area. I recommend looking at the authentic Chinese menu and get the Beef Tendon in Hot Sauce (sounds a bit sketchy but I assure you it is worth every chewy bite), triple delight chicken (ask to have it without the bones, perfect tenderness achieved), and Chicken with Hot Dry Pepper. The food was nothing short of amazing. Wish I was there now...
(4)
G S.
Unfortunately, I need to recount all the wonderful things I shared regarding this restaurant over the 2 1/2 preceding years. The quality was truly exceptional with fantastic attention to detail at one point. At this time, I cannot fathom how they have mustered 4-5 4+ star reviews in the past 10 days without paying for them or hiring a new chef and management staff. The employees were rude and on one occasion showed up 45 minutes after they were scheduled to open and told me that it would only take a minute to get the kitchen open. Laughingly, all of my Co-workers now refer to that establishment as HandyNasty as I once jokingly referred to it after a bad experience.
(1)
Ron D.
In town for business. Heard the food was good so had to try it out. Food, atmosphere and service was amazing. Don't be afraid to stray from what you usually get from your local place. Waiter suggested some choices off the menu and I can't wait to go back on my next trip out this way.
(5)
Karen M.
Not like regular Chinese takeout / Chinese American food. Has some really good dishes. Great date spot and just as good for takeout! My son loves he pork belly and I love the beef cooked hot sauce style. Very different but extremely spicy.
(5)
Gerald F.
Dan dan noodle. Salt and pepper shrimp. Spicy cucumber. Bok choy mushrooms. Love spicey food.
(5)
Mike S.
My wife and I walked in after several referrals to find a disaster unfolding in front of us. Many people had to leave, there was only one chef and they were running out of ingredients left and right. I mean items like chicken broth, wontons, beef, etc... We asked for a refund, but the order was done, so we thought we would try it. Well if you like only the taste of salt, then this would win the prize. Please, trust me, do not go to this restaurant, they will be out of business in two months.
(1)
Kim L.
2 things happened. I was out this way shopping and I stumbled into the shopping center. Always wanted to try the most buzzed about place in Philly ( yelp at least). But I hate driving and parking in the city and other locations are out of the way. As soon as I saw the sign I had to go in. My friend and I weren't disappointed by the Dan Dan noodles. We both are hooked! Everything else was above average Chinese fare . Han dynasty seems to be opening up locations everywhere. How about bucks county! Please, I'm jonesing! Lol!
(4)
Tom U.
This is one of the best Chinese restaurants in the entire Philadelphia area. Their authentic cuisine is unique and satisfying while the chefs have the ability to cater to your particular tastes. We love it. Our kids love it. It is a nice place to eat-in or have take-out.
(5)
Talia A.
Fantastic! We always order from the authentic menu and it has always been amazing. I would highly recommend it to everyone. After searching for years for a good Chinese restaurant, someone recommended Han Dynasty to us last year and now it is our favorite restaurant.
(5)
Bob S.
Did takeout one day from here and was extremely pleased. Looks like it could be a good place to eat in. One of the few BYOB around. Staff seamed very energetic providing a pleasent place to eat.
(4)
Johny G.
Average Chinese takeout. Too pricey. And service-without-smile at counter is a no-go. Too many competitors nearby to go back for more abuse. So sorry.
(2)
Matt B.
If you want authentic Chinese food, this is the place. They have a few other locations in Manayunk and Philadelphia, however, I've found the Royersford location to have the best food and a more relaxed atmosphere. Service speed varies, but trust me, it's worth the wait!
(5)
Dennis L.
Stopped by this little shop in a strip mall for lunch. I know of its high pedigree, being owned by the same owner as the ones in philadelphia. The Lunch special is cheap. I ordered off the authentic menu because I was told a head of time the Americanized dishes weren't that great (and that seems to be the case when I tried other people's orders off that list). I went with the Mapo Tofu w/ pork because that's a favorite of mine. The combo comes with rice, your choice of either hot and sour or egg drop soup, and an entree. The Hotand Sour soup is very flavorful and has a good kick to it. I was sweating from both the heat of the soup, the heat from the spice, and the heat from the restaurant (there's a/c but they need to turn that up for a Schwezwan style restaurant). The Mapo Tofu was a bit spicy and heavy on the chili oil, but the flavor was great. It really wasn't as spicy as I expected and that was ideal. I don't like super spicy stuff, but I hear they turn it down if you come with non asian people. I've had it take out at a friends' (same location) and it was deathly spicy oil, but it was also colder and the oil had congealed. either way, I'm a definite fan, just not of congealed spicey oil stuff. Eat it warm.
(4)
Dave H.
Try the cumin lamb[1], it's worth making the trip here[2]. Savory, and very Szechuan. Their cooking is outstanding, authentic to a T. Everything is quite good and, in some cases, packs a decent amount of heat. Picky eaters can order Americanized Chinese; there's a section on the menu labeled as such. Fantastic service. An upscale interior makes you forget you're in a suburban strip mall; comically, Han Dynasty's layout is damn near identical to Sang Kee Wynnewood. Coincidence? Thanks to my friend for suggesting Han Dynasty! [1] Sorry vegetarians. On the bright side, there are many non-meat menu selections. [2] Don't feel like driving? Han Dynasty has a few other locations in the area.
(5)
BostonBestEats X.
DOING THE NASTY IN THE 'BURBS Although I work only ~10 minutes drive from this outpost of Handy Nasty, I've never been, despite having visited the Old City location many times and being a complete spice-nick (LOL, I actually find HD not spicy enough, having "grown up" on the legendary Sichuan Gourmet in Billerica MA). Part of it may be that I've heard variable reports about the various non-Old City HD locations, as illustrated by the many 5-stars, but quite a few 1-stars that this location receives on Yelp (and maybe my skepticism regarding the prevalence of Chinese food gourmands in the 'burbs--OK, sue me, I'm an ethnic food snob). Anyway, I decided I was going to take my staff here for a holiday party (a Chinese lady who reports to me insisted we go somewhere besides Iron Hill for a change!). Just to be sure I wasn't taking them to a terrible spot, I went for dinner the evening before to check it out (I'm such a considerate boss!). And I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. HD-Royersford is actually a very attractive restaurant, appealing to me more than the Old City location, although it is located in the Limerick strip mall (just off the exit from 422). When we arrived at ~5:15PM on a weeknight, we were the first customers in the moderately sized (~50 seats) restaurant, which is decorated in an understated Chinese motif. Perhaps giving rise to some of the 1 star reviews and complaints about slow service, there appeared to only 1 server and 1 chef. But the 3 dishes we ordered arrived in quick succession within 5 minutes. By the time we left there were a couple of other tables occupied, but this location doesn't seem to be remotely as busy as the always-packed HD-OC. Interestingly, in contrast to HD-OC, there are "American" and "Traditional Chinese" pages on the menu, which are then divided up by ingredients like most Chinese restaurants, as opposed to the completely traditional menu in Old City that is uniquely divided up by cooking styles. Which concerned me as to authenticity. But, not to worry, the 3 traditional-style dishes we selected were excellent... We enjoyed (with complementary rice): 1) Eggplant in Garlic Sauce $6.50--Just tender enough, not falling apart, perfect. Moderately spicy. 2) Sanbeji (3-cup chicken)--This was on the clearly-not-updated-weekly "weekly top 10" dishes menu. A popular Taiwanese dish featured in a Sichuan restaurant? But at least it was a good version, piping hot, with a thick, somewhat sweet sauce, not as completely reduced as some versions I've so the tender cubed chicken wasn't as well done (some purists may not like it for that reason). As expected, only slightly spicy, so a good choice if you're not a spice-nick. 3) Lamb in Cumin $13.95--One of HD-OC's specialities, I actually preferred this version. I've only had it once at OC, and was mystified as to why it is so popular, but I quite enjoyed it this time around and should maybe give it another chance downtown. Spicy. Lunch the next day with my staff was also enjoyable (although I let them pick most of the dishes and I don't think they did quite as good a job at it, despite 15 minutes of arguing, as we did the previous evening). There is a lunch menu, but we were also able to order off the dinner menu. The Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) I insisted on experimenting with, against my better judgement, were serviceable, but I wouldn't order them again (it's almost impossible to find really good ones in the US--another dish the Taiwanese do better than anyone). However, on the down side, the service was a lot slower, again because there seemed to only be 1 or 2 servers. It took us 30 minutes to start getting our food and it came out slowly, so the lunch lasted 1 1/2 hours (we arrived at 12:30 and 2/3rds of the restaurant was occupied, so reservations were not necessary). All in all, the food was very good (although I still prefer Old City, and Han's quirky personality), but the service is likely to be very slow unless you arrive early, so I'm going to knock them down a star for that. But I'll definitely be back, given how convenient it is to work. BYOB. Easy parking in the lot out front. Oh, and that Chinese lady was quite impressed with the food. Which, if you know any Chinese ex-pats, you will realize is VERY high praise indeed, since they think Americans don't know how to mix Dan Dan noodles for themselves. Sláinte!
(3)
Yoshi F.
Who would expect to find authentic Szechuan food in Royersford? Food is awesome and definitely worth the hype.
(5)
Don B.
This place has really gone down hill like many other reviewers state. The service was always been an issue, but they have taken it to a whole new level. Combine that with a big drop off in food consistency and quality and I felt the need to also revise my review. One of the last times I was in, I placed a small to go order. The bill was less than 10$ and I only had a credit card and a 100$ bill. I offer him the credit card and he complains that it's not enough for a credit card. Sure, that's a reasonable response to some degree. I then offer him 100$ cash to which he whines at me that I don't have a smaller bill. I tell him to take his pick, but it's all I have. He very reluctantly charges my credit card and I leave without further issue. I thought this story was kind of funny and evident of a business that has no idea what they are doing. On a positive note , they did fix their signage so it now lights up after several months (years?) of not working. Let it be a beacon of light telling you to steer clear.
(1)
Lawrence H.
Han is back and the quality shows. Order from the authentic side of the menu! Spicy and tasty.
(5)
Chris d.
I hate to write a bad review for this place, as my friends rave about it. But I must disagree with them after my last visit. I will say also that I was disappointed that no one in charge really seemed to care...which is a symptom of growing larger than the owners can properly manage and hence poor products are delivered to the customer because no one in the building cares. I ordered the General Tsau's chicken platter for lunch. The wonton soup starter was bland (which is ok), but the chicken had a fish flavor...you know, when they fry fish in the same fryer as everything else. Ultimately the fryer oil gets a fishy taste and everything tastes a little fishy. Any decent restaurant will cook all fish in a designated fryer. With this in mind, and the fact that I hate the taste of fish, I said something to the waiter at the end of the meal. I also stated that I was not looking for a free meal. Bottom line...whether I was looking for a free meal or not, someone should have come out of the back and asked me about my concern. The waiter stated that it was not possible and his solution was to offer me a can of Coke (even though we had only water with our meals). I don't care if the waiter barely spoke English...whoever was in charge (and it was not the waiter) should have come out and asked me about it. I paid my bill in full and left without anyone saying anything else. Well since no one in that restaurant seems to care, I (and the work group I occasionally dine with) will not be dining there again. Disappointed Customer!
(1)
Michael L.
The food is really good and they have authentic cuisine. That's about it for positives. Communication is very poor. I've ordered take out three times from here. Every time they forgot something. The last time, my wife went to pick up the food so she didn't check in the bag. They not only missed an item, but when we had to drive back they were out of it. What? They couldn't call us? Let us know when we came to pick it up? Nope. Not only that, but what made it worse was when we ordered we had to change two things already because "Oh, we out of that" or "sorry, no that". They need: 1.) A better english speaker - to better cover the language barrier 2.) Delivery 3.) Much better service
(2)
Jason K.
Unfortunately something very bad happened to this place in the past year. As others have mentioned the food and service are terrible and what used to be my favorite Asian restaurant is now one I avoid. It seems like the Royersford restaurant became the proverbial redheaded stepchild of the chain. What a shame.
(1)
Alex M.
More like Handy Nasty. And by that I mean, very very very good. As many have noted, the Dan Dan noodles rock. Even staples like the wonton soup are absolutely wonderful. I can't recommend one dish over another. There aren't many stellar, authentic, reasonably priced restaurants of any kind in Philadelphia, IMHO, and you're talking to a serious foodie here. Handy Nasty is the rare exception. The only reason for my 4 instead of 5 stars is that the menu seldom varies, even across HN's proliferating branches. And where the gifts of the chef and staff are so considerable, there's no excuse for that. Rotate or add to the regular dishes, and feature a weekly or daily special or two--please, Han! Diners, please remember that if you're not a spice person, or feel unsure what to expect heat-wise, dishes can be adjusted to have little or no heat. Also, look for Han himself at this and other locations. His wit is as dry and delicious as the dry rub.
(4)
Matt K.
OK, this time I had help from a friend, and holy COW, this food was fantastic! Three hungry gents visited the Royersford Han Dynasty and ordered: duck in beer sauce, "popcorn" chicken (forget the actual name), Kung Pao chicken, whole fish, bok choy and mushrooms, cumin lamb. Spice levels were high but manageable, you could choose to eat as many or as few of the hot peppers in each dish that you wanted. The cuisine is definitely head and shoulders above any other Chinese cuisine that I have ever tasted. All the dishes were done to perfection, but the duck had a few too many bones. Our server was very friendly and helpful too. The decor is rather modern and you do forget that you are in a mall when you step inside. All in all a wonderful experience, and I will be back.
(5)
Brian M.
I have become such a regular here, I think the staff are beginning to wonder if I'm stalking them. The food is tremendous. Yes, it's a bit spicy, but you can ask them to tone it down and they will. But if you like a bit of spice, just trust the cooks. I'm not a "super hot" kind of guy, and I've only had one dish that was too much heat for me. Also try the "authentic" side of the menu. That's were the real gems of this place will be found. But even the "Americanized" side of the menu will beat what you get at 99% of Chinese restaurants. I've only had one dish here I didn't like: The Curried Noodles. They detract from an otherwise phenomenal menu. A tad bit more expensive than the normal Chinese joint, but worth every cent! And a BYOB to boot! You have to try it. You'll soon be stalking Han Dynasty too. Tip: Double-cooked fish!!!!!
(5)
Jen J.
I am quite amazed by the five star rating up here. I am Chinese and have been to this restaurant no less than 7-8 times. While the food is fairly authentic, the one thing that has always annoyed me was how incredibly salty everything was 50% of the times that I have been here. On these days, all I could taste was salt and the people (I went with different groups) in my groups agreed. I find it distasteful that instead of admitting that the chef may have heavy handed the salt portion (I suspect he or the alternate chef is a smoker), the waitress/hostess always suggests that we have "light" tastes and that the next time we go we need to let them know ahead of time. Um....excuse us for having "irregular" tastebuds but there is nothing wrong with my salt evaluation, especially considering half the times the dishes are fine and not overly salty. I have travelled extensively for work throughout the continental US and have lost count of the Chinese restaurants that I have visited. I KNOW when there is too much salt in the dishes, and this happens very rarely. I find it insulting that a restaurant consistently points out to me that my tastebuds are unusual and that i need to request low sodium upfront. I have never had to do that at any other places and am not about to start.
(3)
Jeremy L.
If you are accustomed to the Han Dynasty in Exton, do not go here. I was excited to see that a Han Dynasty was nearby in Royersford. Boy, my excitement flew out the window! The service is subpar, and I thought it was very odd that this place was not very busy on a Friday night. I just thought that people didn't know about this place. I got my food to go and ordered the dan dan noodles, and a sweet and sour chicken. I got home and was more excited than a child on Christmas morning. I started with the dan dan noodles (and I must admit you get a giant container of them), however when I started to eat these noodles they were spicier than anything I have ever experienced before. I just wrote it off that these were just a spice that I wasn't accustomed to. Then I started to eat the sweet and sour chicken, the sauce was on the side, and the chicken was just the typical Americanized version of puffed deep fried tasteless chicken. I spent around $20 and I threw my sweet and sour chicken out. I called my friend that loves Han Dynasty (Exton location) and told him I would bring him the dan dan noodles so he and his wife could enjoy them. I warned him that they are spicy, and he said that he wasn't concerned because he orders them all of the time. After he and his wife tried the noodles, they threw them out agreeing that it tasted like spaghetti mixed with the hottest sauce on earth and over seasoned. I will never return, even if the management would give me a complimentary meal. I am very disappointed, and never thought my first 1 star review would go to Han Dynasty!
(1)
Jimmy K.
The best of both worlds! The authentic tastes were new, and of course the familiar Americanized dishes will be ideal for the non adventurous. The service is shotty at best, but the food more than makes up for that department. Will most likely want to go again when I'm carving the spicy Szechuan taste! Warning for those who've never had Szechuan cuisine, beware of the dishes that contain Szechuan peppercorns... It straight up numbs your tongue which can be quite intense for those not used to the sensation.
(4)
Atif I.
Which is the odd one out? a) Beef with Broccoli b) General Tso's Chicken c) Sesame chicken d) Szechuan French Fries The answer, obviously, is d. However, not for the apparently obvious reason, but for the fact that this dish, (not on the menu) is the only 'authentic' one of the four listed above. I have a beef, no pun intended, with Americanized Chinese food. I HATE IT! No seriously, I can't stand it. I would think in the last ten years, the cuisine I've had the least is Chinese. It's less to do with the fact that I was raised on Szechuan, Hunan and Hakka, for my subsequent Asian travels acquainted me with Cantonese, Fujian, and Xinjiang. But, it was only in the glorious land of the free that I was acquainted with the 'Blandese' cuisine that insults the good name of Chinese cooking. There's good reason why the food blogs and critics rave about Han Dynasty. The Szechuan dishes are at their fiery best here with no attempt to hold back on the heat that would make you sweat buckets on a sub freezing winter day or cry rivers of tears at Mardi Gras - Han Dynasty truly brings HD into restaurants serving Szechuan cuisine on the East Coast. The dry pot of flounder fillets (melt in the mouth texture!) served in a mini-wok over a blue flame has got to be the best dish I've had in a while. It engulfs you in an intoxicating pleasure pain two-step much like the irresistible allure of the bad boy/girl. You know the attraction will cause you pain and tears, but from the cold dishes of the Chengdu capital to the spitfire hot and pungent dishes from Chongqing you will experience a truly unique range of emotions. It's not all heat, though. You can appreciate layers of flavors (e.g. in the marinated and flash-fried cumin lamb), and textures (e.g. the fried potatoes descriptively named in 'd') not simply the peppercorns, chillies, and hot bean paste. The one thing I personally relate with HD is the absolute and utter contempt the owner, Han has for the mundane dishes popularly deemed as Chinese (e.g. selections 'a' and 'b' in the pattern recognition question at the beginning of the review). In fact, he would be the first to rubbish his own versions of them, listed on the menu under "Americanized". Han is courageously fighting a battle for authenticity, at times one would think at a cost to himself, for friends have mentioned that there might be an element of sabotage, not simply disdain for the garden variety General Tso chicken - dry, rubbery and bland. The fortune cookie at the end, might as well have been presented at the start of the meal for the prediction of "your wish is about to come true" had indeed. Some inconsistency aside, Han offers seriously sensational Szechuan... now repeat that quickly ("seriously sensational Szechuan") to give your tongue another work-out to save it from the "tingly numbing" sensation commonly experienced. Me... I douse all fire with Capogiro gelato.
(5)
Ruth H.
Worst han dynasty experience. Wish I had read Andrew M. review before I ate here. Really enjoyed other han dynasty locations. We also ordered kung pao chicken on the authentic menu and it was horrible. This is the parts of the chicken we throw away. We told the manager and after arguing for several minutes, he took it off the bill. Dan dan noodles were ok. Won't be going back to Royersford location ever. Much smaller menu than other locations with no descriptions.
(1)
Robert T.
Ate dinner here last Friday. Got there a little ahead of the crowd. Very pleasant ambiance. Had chicken in garlic sauce and my son had Kung Pao chicken. My elderly parents tried noodle dishes, pork and beef but didn't think there was enough meat and were disappointed. Oddly, we only were given water to drink and were not asked if we wanted drinks of any other kind, such as the traditional tea pot. The hostess/waitress was very kind and took time to explain the dishes but service was very, very slow, to the extent that it really brought the dining experience down for us. Parking was generous and the men's room was clean. I think it might be better to order the food in "take out" as a way to experience their food but without the very slow service.
(3)
Christopher D.
Grab your water bottle and head to Han Dynasty. I just had a great lunch that included stellar dishes like dumplings in hot oil, dan dan noodles, and twice cooked pork. Service was great and the food paired well with a hoppy beer from Stones. Cannot wait to have more.
(4)
Enrique C.
This is a great chinese restaurant. I go to eat there everytime I have a chance (this means everytime my wife wants to go... ha ha ha). The flavours and the taste of the dishes are very good and you can differentiate the ingredients used. The food is szechuan, so if you like spicy food, this is the deal. I can not recommend a dish because I would write the whole menu. The service is very friendly and do not forget to ask for their spicy veggie pickles... they do not usually give it unless you ask for it. For me, this Chinese restaurant is in my Top 3 (the other 2 are in San Francisco).
(5)
Chris M.
Real Chinese. Really good, however service has gone down and quality has too. That being said better than anything around here.
(5)
Brandon G.
Food is fantastic. Service, not so much. Waitress made fun of my picky eat in wife for ordering "american food". All of us excluding my wife had the Dan Dan noodles, curried beef tendon (served cold) , pork belly, pork fried green beans & fried dumplings. We asked for the dumplings to be fried on both sides and our waitress laughed and said "oh chef won't do that, too many other orders" to which I reminded her we were paying for our food so it had better be the way we asked. other than that everything was fantastic.
(4)
cotie s.
Second time in under two weeks...no problem! Tried two new dishes, Bok Choy with black mushrooms, and deep fried shredded beef. Bok Choy with black mushrooms was a good veggie option, which I recommend to help balance out any of the meaty/spicy dishes you order. Now to the SPICY...deep fried shredded beef. We were even offered to have this dish "normal" or "extra" spicy, we went with normal. I really enjoyed this dish, while the rest of our table found the spicy meter to be above their taste bud's threshold for hotness. Again, Han did not disappoint and I'm left continuing to want more.
(5)
Cliff J.
Really, in my back yard? Craig Laban (Philly Inquirers master restaurant reviewer) gives Hans three bells (Excellent) out of four. For those that follow Craig, we know the rarity of a three bell restaurant as most of his reviews are one or two bells. So this obviously caught my attention. Hands down, Hans Dynasty is the absolute BOMB for Chinese cuisine. Simply awesome. I ordered take out only, so I cannot comment on the table service. Although, the dining room was completely full and smiles could be seen everywhere. The staff seemed friendly and were attentive while I was waiting for my order to be completed, quickly welcoming new guests as they walked through the door. The decor is modern Chinese and definitely reflects the origin of the menu. Visually, it is a mix of complimentary textures and colors, Large slate tile married with natural woods in warm red tones. The space is small, and fills quickly, but the noise level didn't seem too bad. In the back of the dinning area was a finishing station, mirrored with a large frosted window behind which the primary kitchen. Every so often you see bursts of flame through the frosted glass as dishes are prepared. Way cool. The dining area is very clean, even after a full year in business. So here's what we got witha brief review for each. Sweet and sour cucumbers - Crisp, bright with a nice sweetness and hint of spice. Each diagonally cut wedge was nearly the same size demonstrating real attention to detail and of course, some serious knife skills. Dumplings with chili oil - Savory and salty (not too salty though). These are the best dumplings I have ever tasted. The sesame seeds added a nice texture to the soft dumpling. Dan Dan Noodles - I have to say, this was not a hit for me. The flavor was obvious and the spice well-balanced. The noodles have a licorice overtone. Thats not a criticism, it just doesn't favor my palette. I can see why people like this dish. Chicken with broccoli - Again, this was a huge winner with myself and my girlfriend. Nice sweetness and a really unique flavor. I NEVER order chicken, but I would order this again. Double cooked pork - This was my favorite dish on this visit. The pork was tender and juicy, thinly sliced in a wonderful sauce. It did have a little kick, but like all other "spicy" dishes, it was never overpowering. Pork lo mein - This is my usual favorite noodle. Again, this may sound repetitive, but the best lo mein I've ever had. Tons of flavor, perfectly cooked. Period. In all of our food, the freshness of the ingredients shined through. The flavors were well balanced against the spicy ingredients. In addition, each dish was unique. Nothing had a similar taste or flavor. My girlfriend and I could not stop eating. Even after three plate fulls, mixed with eat menu item, we were ready for more. We settled on saving the rest for lunch the next day. The portions are pretty good for the price. All the food listed cost a total of $54. A great value. Look, this is a must stop. Wether you go to the Philly, Exton or Royersford locations, just go. IF YOUF FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL, PLEASE RATE IT AND SEND ME A COMPLIMENT. ONLY TAKES A SECOND!!!
(4)
Percy N.
Han got a new Chef from a well known Sichuan restaurant in NYC. As hard as it is to believe, the food is even better. Hard to put a finger on what is different, but the dishes are just slightly tweaked...in a good way. If you are not in the mood for something spicy (I know, its odd) then try the Crispy rice with chicken. Go check it out !!
(5)
Jim H.
This review is as much for the UYE ARSE event as it is for the establishment. Honestly, I'm comfortable with my boring eating habits. Lately however, Ive been forced out of my culinary comfort zone. I often feel like the grumpy guy from "Green Eggs and Ham" (did he have a name? Was it Jim?) I will not eat Tripe and Pig Intestines I will not eat them in a car I will not eat them on a bar. I will not eat them piled high with amazingly hot chile peppers. I came to Han Dynasty with some great people, with the intention of trying some new things and burning my face off at the same time. Han's is in an unassuming strip mall. Its often been said about UYE's, that the quality of the company is so great, that the location is inconsequential. I would usually agree but in this case, Han Dynasty (and more specifically, Han himself) was like the 10th guest and intergal to the fun of the evening. Hans has a very cool and inviting decor and we were set up right in the middle of the action. We had a very funny and entertaining server, who I later found out was the owner, Han, himself. His level of humor and honesty is unmatched. When jokingly asked by one of us, how the General Tso Chicken is, he replied, " Its Shit!" He definitely encouraged us and( by the segmented Authentic/ Americanized menu) others to steer clear of the normal Chinese food staples and try authentic Chinese cuisine. Our group, was full of knowledgeable, worldly people and it enhanced the whole experience. Between the conversation, and the food I was overwhelmed. They made it easy for me to try things and my God! there was alot to try. Steaming plates of spicy goodness, fantastic wine, sweat inducing pallate spankers. Everyone left stuffed. I love how there was a menu insert, which told you the specials, as well as the Top Ten most popular entrees of the month. I could almost hear Casey Kasem reading them off to me. ..... " And now, at #5 dedicating this to his one legged cat, Tea smoked Duck!" It was through this list that I made my choice of entree, Double fried Beef strips (3 chile rating out of 4!) It was awesome and widely considered a good choice. Owwwww! I just injured my arm patting myself on the back. It was just as good the next day, while I sat in my car on my lunch break at work. It was also somehow hotter the next day as I also sat in my car contemplating guzzling antifreeze to offset the heat. As stated earlier, we left Hans, entertained, stuffed and ready for round 2 at a date to be named later.I had been debating going but once again, I was glad that I overcame my initial fears of trying new things. Ill leave you with some observations of the event. - The women who showed up, (including Aaron) were stunning in both appearance and charm. - I haven't had such good wine in ages. Between Caroline's husband's homemade white and the Francis Ford Coppola Red (better than Godfather 3 -not as good as The Outsiders) there couldn't have been a better accompaniment to the meal. - Han was amazing and we were honored to get the VIP treatment from him. He was like the Asian Chris Rock, cracking us up with his "blue" material. My favorite , was his idea of "different" fortune cookies. The only one that is printable was " That wasn't Chicken, you just ate" - Its funny to watch beads of sweat, form on bald guys heads. - I feel truly sorry for those that didn't attend. Dont make the same mistake in the future.
(5)
David Z.
worst experience in years. Revisited this restaurant with several colleagues to celebrate Chinese new year. we were all disappointed. Waited over 20min for hot tea and the rice was cold and hard (last night's left over?) Food quality and service, 2 thumbs down! They need to fix this place up fast!
(1)
Nick B.
I am definitely a fan of Han. This location is not too far from my house, in a strip mall near Rita's Water Ice in Royersford. The interior is nicely decorated, though a little dim. I swear I've been seated at the same table for the past three times! As far as appetizers go, yes, I'll reiterate what almost everyone else has said: get the Dan Dan noodles! They are delicious and have just the right amount of spiciness. For entrees - I've had the pork lo mein (huge portions, might I add!) Also, the Three Cup Chicken is a very good pick. Not too spicy at all, and just the right amount of savory. Service is generally decent, although the other night they only had one chef on duty (!) and thus, the service suffered greatly. Definitely a 3 star night. But on the whole, Han is generally pretty good, so they deserve at least 4 stars for all of the other good times.
(4)
J M.
Went on a Sunday Night with 2 companions. Only about 4 other tables, with 2 people waiting for takeout, It took almost 10 minutes to flag down the solitary waiter to take our drink orders. He scampered away before we could tell him that we were ready to order. We finally ordered soup and entrees after about 20 minutes. soup came 15 minutes later after a reminder, and on and on - the first entree came out over an hour after we ordered, and it took us another 5 minutes to confirm that the other entrees waren't ready yet, so we asked that they be put in carry-out boxes - which STILL took an inordinate amount of time. Hard to blame the server - he hardly stopped to take a breath the whole time we were there, taking orders for takeout, boxing and running the takeout, occasionally taking orders or bringing out whatever the kitchen had been able to make. some of the others there waiting for takeout said that there was usually at least one more server there on Sundays.s I'm not big on demanding compensation for poor service, but I was rather amazed that they charged us the full amount after such a lousy performance. in any case, I didn't want to wait around any longer to complain.
(1)
James F.
I hear a lot of people talk about the "spice" and that this establishment "rivals" other restaurants flavors. I have to admit, the food is pretty good however you'd be talking about the hot and spicy Sichuan Pepper Oil, the Chili Oil and, the Cilantro and Lemon Grass, etc. I just sent a message to the business and want to hear back. I want to know what happened to my Sliced Beef and Tripe with Chili Oil. The last three times I ordered it was simply not the same. This, above all was the most incredible, most addictive thing I've ever eaten and they freaking changed it. No longer hot, filled with vinegar at times and who knows what happened to that lemony zing you only get from Sichuan Pepper Oil. I'm pissed. On a better note, things like the Tea Smoked Duck, the "authentic" wontons and such are still pretty good. Everything is fresh, never a problem with that. I am just unbelievably disappointed that the recipes seems to change day to day. The customer service cracks me up sometimes but not in a bad way. The people are totally cool to deal with and they often comment that I only order the really hardcore menu items. I'll update after a while, I haven't given up. Please bring back whoever was making those dishes.
(3)
Irene G.
We had out of town guests and decided to go to our favorite Chinese restaurant Han Dynasty in Royersford, Pa. What an embarrassment and complete disaster this turned into. There were nine of us for dinner last Sunday night (3/24/2013). We waited quite a while for a very inexperienced waiter to come to our table. We had to ask several times for a pot of tea while we were deciding what to order. When it was finally delivered no cups were brought with the one pot for nine people. Realizing they were having trouble serving customers, we streamlined our order by having one person order for all of us. Not seeing one of our favorite dishes on the menu that we had ordered many times previously (eggplant with shrimp stuffing) she replied "no comprendo". A 2nd server who appeared very inexperienced just shrugged his shoulders when we asked the same question but he did take our order. After an additional 45 minute wait we demanded that our dinner be served. Two main dishes came out before appetizers, and only bowl out of 5 soups were served. Another long wait to get more main dishes and appetizers, still no soup for 4 of us. We demanded the soup and it came out lukewarm and not very tasty. All the other appetizers and main dishes came out haphazardly and were lukewarm at best. It was just a disaster. The house special fried rice was especially disappointing. It only contained a shred of pork and a few peas, without any flavor. It did not look fried at all. Our favorite dish the tea duck came out as we finished dinner and we told server to take it back as we had enough! What a complete disaster and so embarrassing to us because we bragged how great this place was to our guests. As we left other tables with customers were complaining and even the folks that ordered take out were complaining. The food needs to be served in the correct order, hot, and the service needs to be greatly improved. Han Dynasty was our favorite Chinese restaurant so we'll give it one more try in a few weeks to see if it improves. If not we won't return.
(1)
Tracey K.
I am visiting from Las Vegas and wanted good Chinese here in royersford for my family. I went on yelp who recommended this restaurant as the best. I have one word to describe everything we ate...DRY! It was horrible.We had steamed.dumplings which were fair but was given the smallest amount of dipping sauce I have ever seen in my life. The BBQ chicken sticks, not only didn't bare an ioda of sauce actually resembled sticks, dry dry dry . vegetable lo mein and Singapore noodles were tasteless and also dry. We also attempted vegetable and pork fried rice... Do I dare say it again DRY. Eek is right, try somewhere else.
(1)
Statia M.
I've only ever gotten take out from Han, but I have to say, it's one of the best places in the area. The food is definitely not your average crappy takeout. My favorite is the walnut shrimp. Oh man, that stuff just permeates my taste buds, and leaves me salivating for more. I haven't had decent authentic Chinese food since I lived in California, so I'm happy that there's a place right in my very small town backyard. I plan on re-reviewing this place when I finally am able to go there.
(4)
John Z.
Haven't been here in awhile. Originally liked it because it was so authentic, delicious, and vibrant. My wife and I decided to return last Friday night. Turns out things have changed. It started out with the menus---it looked like they had been tossed in a dumpster and then scavenged to be reused. They were dirty, stained, ripped, and in some places you couldn't read the writing. But what the heck---things like that happen. We were just happy to sit, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the food and ambiance. Until the show started. The wait staff (and I use the term loosely) was unbelievable. The front of the house was staffed by three young guys (all in high school). Nice, pleasant young guys, but so inexperienced it was laughable. As we sat wide-eyed, one waiter ran from one end of the restaurant to the front, while two others yelled to each other across the room. Twice while we sat there, customers who had come in to pick up their takeout orders inspected the bagged items only to come up with incorrect or missing items. Then our spastic trio hemmed and hawed and ran around some more. Really, this was more of a floor show than we expected. It looked like there was no adult supervision. After a reasonable wait, our appetizers arrived. My wife had to flag down one of the guys twice to get some dipping sauce. The appetizers weren't very good, tasting doughy and dry (and lukewarm). Then, about 30 seconds into our appetizers, my entree arrived, but not my wife's, which came 10 minutes later. Both entrees were just average---nothing like the excellent food we remembered. Plus, our waiter never brought us any rice---even after we asked. I could understand all of this if the house was packed with customers, but at 7 PM on a Friday night there were just the two of us and a table of three and a table of six---not quite a packed house. When finally we ended this less than stellar meal, our pleasant waiter came over to our table and handed us the bill---no questions whether we wanted something else or the traditional fortune cookie. My guess is all the fortune cookies probably said, "You will never return to this restaurant again."
(2)
Josh C.
We gave this place one last shot because we heard it had returned to its old glory. Well, definitely not so. The food was meh, the tables were dirty (I had to call the waiter back twice to wipe it, then he took the lazy suzan away to clean it and returned it still with some dried food on it). The bathrooms are gross. This place was fantastic up until 3 years ago. It is now smelly and the food and the service are really marginal. So sad- I used to spend about $100/month at this place on lunch. Never again. Someone who knows the owner should really set them straight. And the health department should pay them a visit.
(2)
Kunal P.
res ipsa loquitur (in its literal meaning)
(4)
Harikrishnan N.
Worst food ever .... N worst service ever...wud hv given 0 star if its possible.... Food quality is so bad... They dont refill the water... Miss many food items.... They'll ruin your evening or best family lunch or whatever it is.....
(1)
Abby G.
We have been big vocal fans of this place since it opened. Went last week and it was embarrassingly horrible. Worse than their typical service, greasy food, unidentifiable chicken, place is dirty. Sad
(1)
Andy S.
I can say without hyperbole that you won't find anything better than this restaurant anywhere, in any time, in any dimension. Why? Because of the...the flavor. The kind of flavor you crave in your dreams. I've wanted to dine here every since I heard about it some time ago (thank you, Yelp). Never in my life would I think "gosh, I really want some authentic, spicy Chinese food...to Royersford I shall go!", but thanks to Yelp, I did. The lure of "the spicy" was too much to resist. You see, I like spicy food, and I can hardly ever get my fix anywhere. Semi-ironically located right next to Palermo's, and with bottles (and cans) from Sly Fox in tow, my companion and I first hit the wontons in chili oil. Oh...em...gee. I wanted to drink the oil it was sooooo good. But I figured that might look weird. So the entrees...I ordered the Hot Pot, mostly because it had the highest(?) spice rating on the menu. It wasn't even on the menu, but on the other piece of paper that came with the menu. I was all "ok, um...chicken is always good...well maybe fish...fine, all of it". It was clearly more volume than even I could handle, but I lost all sense of shame long ago. I thought I ordered it "for one", but I got two huge bowls placed in front of me, absolutely covered in the most glorious peppers ever to be seen by man. Ironically, it wasn't spicy at all..."hot", yes, in the sense that you felt a gradually growing flame from within, but not anything that made you want to chug a cold drink. I barely touched my water (though I drank plenty of the beer, but I would do that anyway). The best part was that I had enough leftover to take home and eat for breakfast. Yes, I ate hot pot for breakfast, because I am so epically hardcore even in the wee hours. If I could find a negative, it was with the incredulity on behalf of the staff. Yes, I want the hot pot. Yes, I know its spicy. Yes, I am sure. Yes, I see you pointing at me from the kitchen and laughing. Yes, I see you peeking around the corner as I start eating it. Yes, I know both you and the other server are surprised when you come over and and see that I am done eating and not even remotely in distress. But I understand given the location many people come into the restaurant and (knowingly or not) step on a landmine, so its all good. Han Dynasty offers an experience usually relegated to things not entirely legal, so for that I salute you. I shall return, as "the spicy" exists nowhere else. I don't care if I have to make a day out of it, because I will order an extra meal to take home for the next day. Or maybe two. Whatever.
(5)
Josh L.
I have enjoyed the food at all 3 Han Dynasty locations. The restaurants are all owned by Han and his parents. They offer authentic Chinese as well as an Americanized menu. I go often and while I have had many of their authentic meals, my girlfriend and I usually eat the dumplings in chili oil, dan dan noodles (chinese noodles with minced spicy pork) and 3 cup chicken. The first two are rather spicy and the 3 cup chicken (without bones) is on the sweet side and balances the meal out. Sometimes the service is a little tough, but they do get busy and there is nothing wrong with flagging down any employee there to get you what you need. Monthly they also do a tasting of something like 20 of their entrees. I have not attended yet but I would love to try it.
(5)
Kevin W.
The signage and the strip mall location might leave doubters wondering if they should be going to the grocery store instead, but have faith. Upon opening the menu you'll see egg rolls and general tso's and... oh thank god that's just the page of Americanized grub. If you turn it one more time you get to the good stuff, under the Authentic heading. We had the meat buns, the rabbit and peanuts in chili oil, the lamb in cumin and the twice cooked pork ribs. Everything was excellent, though the lamb in cumin was oddly better at the end of the meal than it was at the beginning. (In the beginning it felt a little bit one-note, but it got better with each bite.) I'm definitely coming back.
(5)
Danan R.
The three cup chicken, crystal wontons in chili oil, dry woked beef, and boiled fish in hot sauce were excellent. The boiled fish dish tasted very similar to a dish that I had at Shanghai's South Beauty a few months ago. Nice! I have had better Dan Dan noodles from Mary Chung in Cambridge, but the dish here was decent enough. They specialize in Szechuan dishes so be sure to get those here. I wouldn't come here for Americanized Chinese food or your typical Cantonese cuisine, but their Szechuan entrees are fairly authentic and quite spicy. Definitely recommend.
(4)
D.R. S.
I really wanted to give this place good ratings....but with service this poor I just can't. Called to get reservations, and they told me they were full, and hung up. Still, i persisted, due to the high ratings on Yelp. We showed up and were eventually seated. Menu gives no description of the food you are ordering, so I asked help from the waiter (of which there were only 2) and he was no help. Ordered the Pork Belly, inedible, Kung Pao, okay, and the dumplings, good. Had to suffer through the spice with 1 glass of water, only to have the waiter come over when we were ready for the check, and ask for a refill. Want to go back, but maybe not on a Saturday when they are so busy.
(2)
David F.
Holy shit! I've never experienced a restaurant quite like this one. It gets better every time we go and the favorite food list continues to grow. This time I had fish in a dry pot (hot, hot, hot) with bamboo shoots and black bean hot sauce. We also tried the beef tendon which was also cooked in the hot black bean sauce (a staple ingredient in most dishes), and both were 5+ stars. But the dish that stole the show for me was the rabbit which was really tasty a quite a new flavor for me. I've had rabbit before but never prepared like at Han with peanuts, black bean, bamboo shoots and other vegetables that really eliminated any grassy flavor that is common in rabbit. Again, I can't stress enough that if you're gonna go to Han's then please do yourself a favor and ask Han what to order and never.... ever order anything from the American menu. It's insulting to the restaurant and what they're trying to achieve with the authentic cuisine. Lastly, I continue to say that Han himself is 90% of what makes his restaurant great. He really cares what you order and he wants you to get the full, authentic Chinese experience. 10 stars if they were available.
(5)
Jillian P.
After visiting Vegas thirty million times I began to learn that you can find a gem in any "strip mall" situation. Han Dynasty is a perfect example. The atmosphere is wonderful, serene and classy. The service was very friendly and helped us order our food. When I say helped I mean gave suggestions on what went well together and informed us when we should probably stop. "That will be enough". Normally that would annoy me, but I learned the error of my ways. He knew. He was right. Others have said it and I'll say it again. Wonton soup...phenomenal. I could eat an entire meal of just that. Kung Pao chicken...delicious Walnut and Honey (that might be wrong) shrimp...yum Three Cup Chicken...I wasn't a fan. But to me personal preference does not dictate quality of food. The flavors may appeal to you (a little salty for me). All in all this place has added to my excitement for living in Royersford. Thank you Han!
(5)
Tom C.
There is a song by Buster Poindexter called "Hot Hot Hot" that kept running through my head as I enthusiastically shoveled mass quantities of nuclear warheads into my mouth last night. What a trip, I kept waiting for a coyote with the voice of Johnny Cash to appear as my spirit guide, but alas no groovy visuals. The thing that stood out most to me was that none of it was hot for the sake of hot. The flavors of every dish stood out despite the little red devils sticking their pitchforks into my tongue and my bodies water works foreman deciding to open up the flood gates and turn the sweat dial to full blast! In fact, I think it was because everything tasted so good in addition to the heat that I committed a slow act of suicide by impending ulcer. Quick run down: Won ton &/or Dumplings in chili sauce were amazing 3 cup Chicken fantastic, although the tiny bones created their own unique minefield Flounder in dry pot was incredible and incredibly spicy! There must have been 5 flounders in the dish and the various mushrooms put this over the top for me.
(5)
Steve M.
Best Chinese food.
(5)
Melch R.
Han Dynasty is great. I was bummed for years over the lack of a proper Szechuan spot in Philadelphia. I'd try a dish here or there in Chinatown on recommendation, but nothing really hit the mark. I spent a nice bit of time traveling through the Sichuan province several years back and was floored by the food there, came back eager. Sadly, I had to make my way to Manhattan or Flushings, Queens for the good stuff. Guess not sadly, my lady lived in Queens. Anyways... I asked my Chinese buddy at work if he knew of any proper spots in or around Philly. He got excited and pointed me to Han Dynasty. I trekked out and understood why - the place is great. I've made my way through most of the super spicy seafood or veg dishes, always chatting with Han himself for tips, off-menu stuff and to make sure no other meat ends up in the order. Like everybody else has mentioned, Han is the man. He always chats, makes goofy jokes and gushes enthusiasm about his menu. He's gotten to know what I like and sets me up good and hot. It's in a stripmall/suburban type of hell, but worth the drive. Pair it up with a couple of beers around the corner at Sly Fox, especially for the stuff on tap you can't really find in town, and tote along a growler for the meal. Not so bad, afterall. Han cracks me up.
(5)
E T.
I love the food but I only eat the authentic fare. The service is not great even for someone that eats or orders takeout frequently. This is at the royersford place. I've also eaten at the Exton location with much better food and service. The Exton site does a better job of explaining and cooking the food (menu is slightly different). I love the spiciness of the food and love the fact that the will adjust not only the spiceness but also the contains....don't like the mushrooms, just tell them to leave them out and they will.
(4)
alison m.
The food here is really great. I ordered the sliced fish with tofu (came in a hot chili oil sauce). Everything was cooked perfectly and the flavors were outstanding. Wish I had a Chinese food restaurant like this near me!
(4)
George M.
Great lunch specials and their service was insanely quick....maybe that's because it was a Tuesday afternoon and only 3 other parties were in there, but they still knocked it out of the park. Courteous wait staff, clean restaurant - I will definitely be back.
(5)
DAVID W.
Zero stars - but that wasn't an option. By and far the WORST dining experience our family has ever had. We walked into what was at least an eighty degree room. There were only two servers and one busser, which left us waiting 15 minutes for a hostess (even with reservations). We were seated in a corner without enough chairs. We waited fifteen minutes to finally flag down a server and ask for a chair and water for the table. We ordered egg rolls, which would not arrive for another 40 minutes after having to remind them three times that we had ordered them. We also ordered wonton soup - which never arrived. We ordered one entree per person, six total. One arrived. Fifteen minutes later another. A half our later two more. Twenty minutes later another. And finally, more than an hour since the first entree arrived... The last one. During this time I questioned the server as to where our food was and he said we could cancel everything or wait. The service was the worst I'd ever seen, the servers (one of whom is part owner) were rude to say the least, and our whole family left hot and angry with the entire evening. When I called the Philadelphia location to speak with the owner regarding the service at Royersford, his response was "What do you expect?! We run shitty Chinese restaurants!". Verbatim - exact words. I was floored. He was pompous, rude and said "If you don't like it, don't come back. I have a theory that Chinese people will never be able to serve Americans the way they expect to be served." Needless to say - we will NEVER go back.
(1)
cheri c.
I'll just echo what everyone else has said! Great food, service, ambience and very affordable! Definitely worth a try! The employees are VERY friend including the man who I assume is the owner/manager. I will definitely be back! Also, I love the fact that they have both an "Americanized Chinese Menu" and an "Authentic Chinese Menu"!
(5)
James S.
Amazing, amazing, amazing Chinese food in Royersford! Who knew you'd find an authentic Chinese restaurant in the shadow of the Limerick nuclear reactor...I went to Han Dynasty on a Saturday night in early March after reading excellent reviews on Yelp. We waited in line for 15 minutes and were genuinely surprised at how *good* everything was. Appetizers: Egg roll and Spring rolls. Totally homemade, as evidenced by the burrito-sized egg roll and 10 minute wait for spring rolls. Entrees: Awesome hunan chicken (mild heat) and flounder in dry pot (noticeable heat). The flounder was a great surprise -- very fresh, lightly breaded, spicy sauce. Hunan chicken was a great accompaniment because it had a slightly sweeter flavor. Portions were large, too, although we ate everything they put in front of us. Dessert: Too full. The meal was so good that 4 days later, we went back for more hunan chicken and shrimp fried rice. Admittedly these were "Americanized" items but they were just as good. In the end (if you couldn't tell), I totally recommend Han Dynasty!
(5)
Sowmya M.
Food not good..servers extreme recklessness and they refilled water after several requests
(1)
Jeni A.
Love the food - if you are coming here for typical Chinese fare go elsewhere, this place shines because of it's authenticity. We've tried lots of dishes and haven't had anything not spot-on. To be clear, if it says it's spicy it's about 10 times hotter than you'd expect so have lots of beer on hand! As noted by others attitude is the problem here - we do take-out to avoid it but once we had $100+ order for a family function and waited 75+ minutes (after being told 30) only to be told that there was no rice available!! I was pretty calm but those that reacted with disbelief were immediately given attitude.
(4)
Jand J.
WOW! We had a wonderful time at this restaurant -- the menu offered "Americanized" and "Authentic" dishes -- took us a long time to narrow down what we wanted (and that's great!) My fiance had fish in dry pot and raved about it (and there was much more than he could eat... and that is saying a lot!) I had stir fry vegetables with home style tofu. This was similar to what I might order from any other Chinese restaurant, except the taste was so sharp and "fresh" -- I knew I was eating very fresh vegetables. Nearly the entire dish came back home with me -- so much more than anyone could possibly eat. I highly recommend this restaurant. We intend to go back often, and both doubt we'll bother with any other local place! Extremely friendly service, also! And BYOB
(4)
Zachary F.
I never dined in so far but the atmosphere is nice. Inconsistent food. Since it's the closest place, I ordered take-out here weekly over the past summer and fall. Been served bamboo shoots that already went bad. Sometimes the rolls are really excellent and fresh, other times they are way overfried. Sometimes, I order a dish I had 5 times before, and they put in 2-3x amount of the hot stuff that was in their before, or skimp on the meat. They need some more quality control in this area. They specialize in hot (spicy) food, although I think it's overdone to simply make it hotter without any mind given to improving the flavor. Otherwise it's fine for that niche and I like hot food personally but many people can't stomach their specialties for that reason. My brother ordered something I consider relatively mild and couldn't finish 1/4 of it because it was too spicy for him - so keep that in mind if you have guests. I would skip it for regular 'Americanized' chinese, they don't seem to want to serve their stated menu half the time either. I called several times wanting to eat something from their website menu (like moo shu pork) only to be told they don't make it. For takeout, the food is always made promptly, with the typical soy/duck sauce (check your bag - sometimes they forget this), and really bland rice which is typical and I can't fault them on that and probably serves to mild the hot foods. Edit 6/30/2012 I went to this place twice several months ago and it was really just nasty one of those times and meh the other. Knocked off a star. I'm open to new cuisine, I think, and I don't order the American stuff, but experimenting here is both expensive and unrewarding imo. From 3 stars to 2.
Great dining space. Good service. Authentic Chinese cuisine. Great food. Great selection.
(5)
Mike T.
Forget about all the average Chinese restaurants serving Americanized fare on a daily basis. This is the real deal in terms of authentic, flavorful, spicy and delicous Chinese. It might be located in a Strip Mall tucked away in Eastern Pa, but once you have tasted Han Dynasty, you will forget it is in a Strip Mall and remember the flavors long after you leave. As many Yelpers have already stated in their reviews of Han Dynasty, watch the heat level on your choices if you dont like your food too spicy. I wouldnt ask for them to make it spicy (or say "yes" if they ask if you want your selection spicy) if you like your food on the mild-spicy side. If you like it spicy or ask for it that way, they wont disappoint: diced dried chili peppers will be plentiful in quantity. Being someone who loves spicy, I enjoyed the blend of heat level and flavors. Han loves dried chili peppers and so do I! APPETIZERS: Dumplings in Chili Oil (6 per appetizer) are tender and freshly perpared and delicious. Dam Dam Noodles are full of flavor with a great taste of ginger. Braised Beef Noodle Soup was also excellent, a large bowl that would have satisfied 3 people filled with noodles with pieces of beef and very spicy (I asked for it very spicy and it was spicy!). ENTREES: I absolutely love the Fish in a Dry Pot (plenty of pieces of flounder with mushrooms, vegetables, dried chilis in a delicious bean sauce) . Served in it's own metal serving wok with a flame underneath it to keep it sizzling hot when placed in front of you, it is not only impressive in look but loaded with flavors. The flounder is soo fresh and melts in your mouth. Kung Pao Scallops with red/green peppers/onions/peanuts/chili peppers was spicy with a great balance of ginger. The scallops were plentiful, tender and fresh. 3 Cup Chicken with the braised chicken and soy flavors was also excellent. Overall, this is not your average Chinese. Like other Yelpers, it ranks a 5 on the Yelp scale and deserves it. Now when I have a craving for Chinese, the only place that will enter my mind will be Han Dynasty.
(5)
Sharon F.
THere is a reason this place averages 5 stars. Hands down the best chinese food I have ever eaten, better than in the chinatowns of S.F. and N.Y. The smell and smokiness when you first walk in can be a bit overwhelming but that is all part of the experience. Made a reservation so of course was seated right away, pleasant and friendly waitstaff. Ordered the tofu/vegetable soup, which was very good as far as this type of soup goes. Vegetables very fresh, soup was clear, liquidy and light, as opposed to starchy and heavy. Healthy and refreshing. I ordered the tofu home style and my partner ordered honey walnut shrimp, both from the authentic chinese side of the menu, which is really what should only be ordered.. not the americanized menu. We shared both generous proportions and both were in a word, delightful. I generally like to chat when I eat but I was so mesmerized by the flavors and spices of the food. I ordered the tofu dish spicy and it didn't disappoint--- seasoned with a pepper mix that I could never replicate. Perfect blend of spices. The honey walnut dish was both savory and sweet. The dished oozed with this glaze that made it look so decadent and it tasted as such. Almost addictive. It's hard to order taken out from down the street now.
(5)
Nathan R.
I've only been here once, but I will be back. I had the Dumplings in Chili Oil, the cold Rabbit and Peanut appetizer, and the Spicy Hot Pot. Our waitress actually tried to talk us out of the hot pot because she thought it would be too spicy for a first-timer. Well, it was powerful, but I'm glad I had it. The dumplings are spectacular, with a delicate sweet flavor on top of the chilis. The rabbit was a little bony for me -- I'm not used to rabbit, honestly -- but the dish was delicious. And the hot pot -- wow. Spicy, yes, but such a complicated blend of flavors. It was a mixture of meat, fish, glass noodles, tofu, mushrooms and vegetables in a peppery sauce. The sauce was fiery but not overpowering, with cardamom, almost lavender-like peppercorns, and perfectly cooked fresh fish. I loved it. I had lunch on a Sunday and didn't get to talk to Han, but the young lady who waited on us seemed tickled that we enjoyed what she said was their hottest dish. It was cute.
(5)
Sandman D.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Philly burbs serving authentic Sichuan cuisine. They serve both the Americanized Chinese menu and authentic Chinese menu. If you are up for some spice and different taste profile, I strongly recommend skipping the Americanized Chinese and going for the authentic Chinese menu.
(4)
Tim F.
For authentic Chinese food, it does not get any better than this. It is without question the best Chinese cuisine I've had in the US. The owner, Han, is quite an interesting and entertaining guy. If he is there when you arrive, ask him for dish suggestions. it makes the whole experience unique and fun.
(5)
Joni J.
Fabulous food and I've never had poor service. I usually go for lunch so I can't tell you what the dinner service is like.
(5)
Sabrina D.
Wow, I'm absolutely amazed at all the rave reviews on this place. I had the most awful experience at this place and will never ever be back. First off we waited almost 20 minutes before anyone ever came to our table, we never even got acknowledged during this time. We did notice however that other people who came in well after us were already being served drinks and their orders were being taken. When we finally did get someone to our table and we never even got asked if we would like a drink...well being starving i wasn't about to leave at this point so I ordered reluctantly. They had a seperate menu of their top ordered items so I ordered this spicy chicken with hot peppers. This was the most disgusting dish, it looked good but was so dry and the chicken was chewy and way too spicy for my taste. I took one bite and had no desire to eat any more of it. The others in my party seemed to enjoy what they ordered, so I guess I just made a wrong decision. Hey it happens, and you know I wouldn't even be on here writing a bad review if I had felt we at least got treated like human beings there. I seriously felt like we were invisible the whole time, no one ever came to our table during the whole meal and at the end when our dishes were being picked up, I told the waiter the dish was too spicy for me and he just shrugged at me and walked off. No offer to get me something else, no offer to take some of it off my bill, nothing, I also noticed that everyone else in the restaurant who was of another ethnic background (not white) was offered chopsticks and also seemed to get great service, I seriously felt discriminated against and my party agreed that we seemed to be getting the short end of the chopstick at that place. I have no doubt that some of their other dishes are great, but being treated badly is enough to turn me off, I don't care how great their food might be, being treated like that is never acceptable and I also think their food is way overpriced. In my opinion, great service makes or breaks your experience and unfortunately my experience here is broken beyond repair.
(1)
Raj A.
Amazing Chinese restaurant in the area. Set apart from the other Chinese restaurants by it's "Authentic" cuisine, though the food is a bit on the greasy side. If you want to try something different, make sure you choose from the "Authentic Menu". "American Menu" also available that include the standard items like Kungpao Chicken, Hot and Sour Chicken etc. Must try "Chicken with Hot/Dry Peppers", "Boiled Fish in Hot Sauce", "Diced Chicken in Garlic Sauce". Most of the items are available with vegetables, Chicken, Fish, Post and Beef.
(5)
RB B.
I have to start off by saying that this place must either be owned by Sang Kee Bistro ( which I really don't think it is,) or they used the same architect/designer. Walking into this place was like walking into Sang Kee Bistro, only smaller. Same exact layout, same surface materials, same everything, even down to the bar with the little tv screens built in. Not a bad thing as it is very warm and pleasant. Menu is pretty extensive. They have 2 sections - Americanized and Authentic. We ordered from the Americanized, but I'm looking forward to going back and being more adventurous because the entire menu looks and sounds great. Egg drop and hot and sour soups were pretty typical. Egg roll came out perfectly hot and crispy, as it should be. We had lo mein and eggplant and tofu in garlic sauce. Both were delicious. Prices are reasonable and portions pretty large, which makes for a good value. The place gets pretty crowded on a Saturday night. We had a resie and still waited about 25 minutes. Usually I'd be annoyed by that, but for some reason it was ok.
(4)
Anthony Y.
I had high expectations for this chinese restuarnt being all th\at i've heard and i must say that i was thoroughly impressed. The food was delicious. Me and my daughter ordered the Flounder dry hot pot and the pork rib noodle stew. The food was excellent and authentic in taste and variety. The majority of the offerings are Authentic which i highly recommend...although they do serve americanized dishes which can be orderd at any typical chinese American restaurant. Han Dynasty is here to stay!
(4)
yan c.
terrible service, i order scallion pancake, it come out with tons oil on it, ask wait for more napkin, he come over and give me 4 piece tiny napkin, use most of to absorb the oil from the pancakes. half way through. the meal, went out of napkin, and ask him for more napkin, take him at least another. 10 min to bring you napkin. during. that 10 min, he pass our table. countless time while bring menu and stop by to order for the table next to us, and stop by to wipe the table while 80% of the restaurant is empty. he just give you feeling that he doesn't want to give you more napkin. i been to tons of chinese restaurant, including chinatown, they are not known for their service. but this one is terrible.
(2)
Local Guest D.
UNFORTUNATE FOR US SINCE THE FOOD IS GOOD ... but A group of friends and I attended the "Tasting event" recently in Royersford. The Owner, Han was so so very very rude to our party that several guests in our party got up and left - because Han was so nasty about specific dietary (vegetarian) request that the guest had. Han in short said that the people in Royersford are "ignorant and dont have class like the people in Center City". Then he proceeded to tell our group - loud enough that the entire restaurant heard him - that he "isnt making any money on the tastings and that he should cancel them for this location for the future because the people out this way cant appreciate it". When an owner of a restaurant thinks he's above his customers - something is wrong!!! Maybe it was the 3 beers that he had drunk by the time the food was even served but regardless - not very professional nor welcoming. Have gone to this restaurant almost weekly and spent LOTS of MONEY over the last year - but definately will reconsider for the future. Unfortunately for us - the food is good. Although the tasting event presentation and amounts weren't as good nor as comparable to the last events we've attended and but maybe we were being "punished". I have found the food overall to be not as good in the several weeks. As a restaurant critic - the food is good - but not worth the personal attack. Han - go ahead and stay in Philly!!
(2)
Julian S.
Let's put a new review in here just to set shit straight. Han Dynasty is amazing. I've never had anything there that fell short of excellent. If you want an awesome experience and are willing to take a risk, do what I do. 1. Go to Han Dynasty. 2. Decide on an appetizer (the beef and tripe in chili is incredible) or 2 and some soup (the wonton is baller). 3. Pick a meat, and then just ask them to surprise you with the dish. 4. Enjoy the fudge out of your food. 5. Order the insane ice cream trifecta. 6. Enjoy said trifecta. 7. Pay them. 8. Go home happy. I've done this every single time I've gone there. I always end up with something different and exciting.
(5)
Komal D.
Follow the waiters recommendations! I can't handle spicy, but if you go to low on the spiciness scale, then your food will have no flavor. This isn't typical Chinese food in America, it's a different type of cuisine. So don't expect some general tsos. This was a vegetarian foodie night, with a spice level of 4, and it was good! The waiter started us with waters and hot tea. Spicy cucumber: basically sliced cucumbers in a spicy sauce. Really good, light appetizer Dan Dan Noodles: spicy, but it has to be because that's where the flavor is and it's really good! Garlic sauce tofu: soft tofu with peppers and mushrooms in a sauce. Good with some white rice Cumin tofu: AMAZING! fried tofu covered in cumin. It was delicious. I could eat just that. Service was pretty good, but nothing to complain about. Food was definitely spicy, but it has to be for flavor. I don't know why they have an "Americanized" menu.. The regular food is delicious as is.
(4)
Chaye V.
I have gone to Han dynasty many times and the only thing i go for is the Dan dan noodles. Its simply flavorful with just the right amount of seasoning. Out of all the chinese cuisine I would have to say sezchun hands down is my favoritest region of chinese cuisine. The only complaint I would have for them is to not use MsG because I think it ruins the dish. Still this a solid place for sezchun food.
Great dining space. Good service. Authentic Chinese cuisine. Great food. Great selection.
(5)
Mike T.
Forget about all the average Chinese restaurants serving Americanized fare on a daily basis. This is the real deal in terms of authentic, flavorful, spicy and delicous Chinese. It might be located in a Strip Mall tucked away in Eastern Pa, but once you have tasted Han Dynasty, you will forget it is in a Strip Mall and remember the flavors long after you leave. As many Yelpers have already stated in their reviews of Han Dynasty, watch the heat level on your choices if you dont like your food too spicy. I wouldnt ask for them to make it spicy (or say "yes" if they ask if you want your selection spicy) if you like your food on the mild-spicy side. If you like it spicy or ask for it that way, they wont disappoint: diced dried chili peppers will be plentiful in quantity. Being someone who loves spicy, I enjoyed the blend of heat level and flavors. Han loves dried chili peppers and so do I! APPETIZERS: Dumplings in Chili Oil (6 per appetizer) are tender and freshly perpared and delicious. Dam Dam Noodles are full of flavor with a great taste of ginger. Braised Beef Noodle Soup was also excellent, a large bowl that would have satisfied 3 people filled with noodles with pieces of beef and very spicy (I asked for it very spicy and it was spicy!). ENTREES: I absolutely love the Fish in a Dry Pot (plenty of pieces of flounder with mushrooms, vegetables, dried chilis in a delicious bean sauce) . Served in it's own metal serving wok with a flame underneath it to keep it sizzling hot when placed in front of you, it is not only impressive in look but loaded with flavors. The flounder is soo fresh and melts in your mouth. Kung Pao Scallops with red/green peppers/onions/peanuts/chili peppers was spicy with a great balance of ginger. The scallops were plentiful, tender and fresh. 3 Cup Chicken with the braised chicken and soy flavors was also excellent. Overall, this is not your average Chinese. Like other Yelpers, it ranks a 5 on the Yelp scale and deserves it. Now when I have a craving for Chinese, the only place that will enter my mind will be Han Dynasty.
(5)
Sharon F.
THere is a reason this place averages 5 stars. Hands down the best chinese food I have ever eaten, better than in the chinatowns of S.F. and N.Y. The smell and smokiness when you first walk in can be a bit overwhelming but that is all part of the experience. Made a reservation so of course was seated right away, pleasant and friendly waitstaff. Ordered the tofu/vegetable soup, which was very good as far as this type of soup goes. Vegetables very fresh, soup was clear, liquidy and light, as opposed to starchy and heavy. Healthy and refreshing. I ordered the tofu home style and my partner ordered honey walnut shrimp, both from the authentic chinese side of the menu, which is really what should only be ordered.. not the americanized menu. We shared both generous proportions and both were in a word, delightful. I generally like to chat when I eat but I was so mesmerized by the flavors and spices of the food. I ordered the tofu dish spicy and it didn't disappoint--- seasoned with a pepper mix that I could never replicate. Perfect blend of spices. The honey walnut dish was both savory and sweet. The dished oozed with this glaze that made it look so decadent and it tasted as such. Almost addictive. It's hard to order taken out from down the street now.
(5)
Nathan R.
I've only been here once, but I will be back. I had the Dumplings in Chili Oil, the cold Rabbit and Peanut appetizer, and the Spicy Hot Pot. Our waitress actually tried to talk us out of the hot pot because she thought it would be too spicy for a first-timer. Well, it was powerful, but I'm glad I had it. The dumplings are spectacular, with a delicate sweet flavor on top of the chilis. The rabbit was a little bony for me -- I'm not used to rabbit, honestly -- but the dish was delicious. And the hot pot -- wow. Spicy, yes, but such a complicated blend of flavors. It was a mixture of meat, fish, glass noodles, tofu, mushrooms and vegetables in a peppery sauce. The sauce was fiery but not overpowering, with cardamom, almost lavender-like peppercorns, and perfectly cooked fresh fish. I loved it. I had lunch on a Sunday and didn't get to talk to Han, but the young lady who waited on us seemed tickled that we enjoyed what she said was their hottest dish. It was cute.
(5)
Sandman D.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Philly burbs serving authentic Sichuan cuisine. They serve both the Americanized Chinese menu and authentic Chinese menu. If you are up for some spice and different taste profile, I strongly recommend skipping the Americanized Chinese and going for the authentic Chinese menu.
(4)
Tim F.
For authentic Chinese food, it does not get any better than this. It is without question the best Chinese cuisine I've had in the US. The owner, Han, is quite an interesting and entertaining guy. If he is there when you arrive, ask him for dish suggestions. it makes the whole experience unique and fun.
(5)
Joni J.
Fabulous food and I've never had poor service. I usually go for lunch so I can't tell you what the dinner service is like.
(5)
Sabrina D.
Wow, I'm absolutely amazed at all the rave reviews on this place. I had the most awful experience at this place and will never ever be back. First off we waited almost 20 minutes before anyone ever came to our table, we never even got acknowledged during this time. We did notice however that other people who came in well after us were already being served drinks and their orders were being taken. When we finally did get someone to our table and we never even got asked if we would like a drink...well being starving i wasn't about to leave at this point so I ordered reluctantly. They had a seperate menu of their top ordered items so I ordered this spicy chicken with hot peppers. This was the most disgusting dish, it looked good but was so dry and the chicken was chewy and way too spicy for my taste. I took one bite and had no desire to eat any more of it. The others in my party seemed to enjoy what they ordered, so I guess I just made a wrong decision. Hey it happens, and you know I wouldn't even be on here writing a bad review if I had felt we at least got treated like human beings there. I seriously felt like we were invisible the whole time, no one ever came to our table during the whole meal and at the end when our dishes were being picked up, I told the waiter the dish was too spicy for me and he just shrugged at me and walked off. No offer to get me something else, no offer to take some of it off my bill, nothing, I also noticed that everyone else in the restaurant who was of another ethnic background (not white) was offered chopsticks and also seemed to get great service, I seriously felt discriminated against and my party agreed that we seemed to be getting the short end of the chopstick at that place. I have no doubt that some of their other dishes are great, but being treated badly is enough to turn me off, I don't care how great their food might be, being treated like that is never acceptable and I also think their food is way overpriced. In my opinion, great service makes or breaks your experience and unfortunately my experience here is broken beyond repair.
(1)
Raj A.
Amazing Chinese restaurant in the area. Set apart from the other Chinese restaurants by it's "Authentic" cuisine, though the food is a bit on the greasy side. If you want to try something different, make sure you choose from the "Authentic Menu". "American Menu" also available that include the standard items like Kungpao Chicken, Hot and Sour Chicken etc. Must try "Chicken with Hot/Dry Peppers", "Boiled Fish in Hot Sauce", "Diced Chicken in Garlic Sauce". Most of the items are available with vegetables, Chicken, Fish, Post and Beef.
(5)
RB B.
I have to start off by saying that this place must either be owned by Sang Kee Bistro ( which I really don't think it is,) or they used the same architect/designer. Walking into this place was like walking into Sang Kee Bistro, only smaller. Same exact layout, same surface materials, same everything, even down to the bar with the little tv screens built in. Not a bad thing as it is very warm and pleasant. Menu is pretty extensive. They have 2 sections - Americanized and Authentic. We ordered from the Americanized, but I'm looking forward to going back and being more adventurous because the entire menu looks and sounds great. Egg drop and hot and sour soups were pretty typical. Egg roll came out perfectly hot and crispy, as it should be. We had lo mein and eggplant and tofu in garlic sauce. Both were delicious. Prices are reasonable and portions pretty large, which makes for a good value. The place gets pretty crowded on a Saturday night. We had a resie and still waited about 25 minutes. Usually I'd be annoyed by that, but for some reason it was ok.
(4)
Anthony Y.
I had high expectations for this chinese restuarnt being all th\at i've heard and i must say that i was thoroughly impressed. The food was delicious. Me and my daughter ordered the Flounder dry hot pot and the pork rib noodle stew. The food was excellent and authentic in taste and variety. The majority of the offerings are Authentic which i highly recommend...although they do serve americanized dishes which can be orderd at any typical chinese American restaurant. Han Dynasty is here to stay!
(4)
yan c.
terrible service, i order scallion pancake, it come out with tons oil on it, ask wait for more napkin, he come over and give me 4 piece tiny napkin, use most of to absorb the oil from the pancakes. half way through. the meal, went out of napkin, and ask him for more napkin, take him at least another. 10 min to bring you napkin. during. that 10 min, he pass our table. countless time while bring menu and stop by to order for the table next to us, and stop by to wipe the table while 80% of the restaurant is empty. he just give you feeling that he doesn't want to give you more napkin. i been to tons of chinese restaurant, including chinatown, they are not known for their service. but this one is terrible.
(2)
Local Guest D.
UNFORTUNATE FOR US SINCE THE FOOD IS GOOD ... but A group of friends and I attended the "Tasting event" recently in Royersford. The Owner, Han was so so very very rude to our party that several guests in our party got up and left - because Han was so nasty about specific dietary (vegetarian) request that the guest had. Han in short said that the people in Royersford are "ignorant and dont have class like the people in Center City". Then he proceeded to tell our group - loud enough that the entire restaurant heard him - that he "isnt making any money on the tastings and that he should cancel them for this location for the future because the people out this way cant appreciate it". When an owner of a restaurant thinks he's above his customers - something is wrong!!! Maybe it was the 3 beers that he had drunk by the time the food was even served but regardless - not very professional nor welcoming. Have gone to this restaurant almost weekly and spent LOTS of MONEY over the last year - but definately will reconsider for the future. Unfortunately for us - the food is good. Although the tasting event presentation and amounts weren't as good nor as comparable to the last events we've attended and but maybe we were being "punished". I have found the food overall to be not as good in the several weeks. As a restaurant critic - the food is good - but not worth the personal attack. Han - go ahead and stay in Philly!!
(2)
Julian S.
Let's put a new review in here just to set shit straight. Han Dynasty is amazing. I've never had anything there that fell short of excellent. If you want an awesome experience and are willing to take a risk, do what I do. 1. Go to Han Dynasty. 2. Decide on an appetizer (the beef and tripe in chili is incredible) or 2 and some soup (the wonton is baller). 3. Pick a meat, and then just ask them to surprise you with the dish. 4. Enjoy the fudge out of your food. 5. Order the insane ice cream trifecta. 6. Enjoy said trifecta. 7. Pay them. 8. Go home happy. I've done this every single time I've gone there. I always end up with something different and exciting.
(5)
Komal D.
Follow the waiters recommendations! I can't handle spicy, but if you go to low on the spiciness scale, then your food will have no flavor. This isn't typical Chinese food in America, it's a different type of cuisine. So don't expect some general tsos. This was a vegetarian foodie night, with a spice level of 4, and it was good! The waiter started us with waters and hot tea. Spicy cucumber: basically sliced cucumbers in a spicy sauce. Really good, light appetizer Dan Dan Noodles: spicy, but it has to be because that's where the flavor is and it's really good! Garlic sauce tofu: soft tofu with peppers and mushrooms in a sauce. Good with some white rice Cumin tofu: AMAZING! fried tofu covered in cumin. It was delicious. I could eat just that. Service was pretty good, but nothing to complain about. Food was definitely spicy, but it has to be for flavor. I don't know why they have an "Americanized" menu.. The regular food is delicious as is.
(4)
Chaye V.
I have gone to Han dynasty many times and the only thing i go for is the Dan dan noodles. Its simply flavorful with just the right amount of seasoning. Out of all the chinese cuisine I would have to say sezchun hands down is my favoritest region of chinese cuisine. The only complaint I would have for them is to not use MsG because I think it ruins the dish. Still this a solid place for sezchun food.
If you are looking for good Chinese food, this is the place you want to go to. It's small and I really liked the way its decorated. The service was a little slow as previous reviewers stated but, not enough to bother my family. Plus everyone was very friendly. We ordered Mongolian Beef, Garlic Sauce Pork and Sweet and Sour Chicken The food we ordered was delicious! Tasted as if it was made fresh to order - which is so unusual for American Chinese food. In fact, all the food I saw delivered to other patrons, looked delicious. My advice to you is don't go to Veekoo or PF Changs or Wegman's chinese buffet... Go to Han Dynasty - you can thank me later. Ps the background music, while we ate, was top hits from Disney animated movies (like the Lion King) kinda funny...
(5)
Chris D.
Han is back and the food is better than ever! Chicken Hot dried pepper, Fish in a dry pot, Dan Dan noodles, Quick fried cucumbers - All are mind blowing. Careful because this can become an addiction. Hi my name is Chris and I am addicted to Hans Sichuan cuisine.
I have mixed feelings about this location. On the one hand, when the food is on here, it's really on. The every-second-Tuesday-of-the-month tastings, for instance, are a fantastic way to spend an evening, and in busy periods like Saturday night, you will generally get great and unique-in-the-area food. The problem is the rest of the time. Frankly, you are taking your chances ordering other days. For instance, today, a Thursday, we ordered from here. I prefer the authentic food, and my wife prefers the Americanized menu and has a lower heat tolerance, so I tend to order milder dishes: today it was the double cooked pork, along with fried rice for her. The food was amazingly bland. The rice was nearly white (clearly almost no soy used) and had a slight smell of lemon Lysol to it. My pork was mostly fat. I did not recognize any of the workers in the place when I picked up, despite going there tens of times. I wonder if there are turnover issues here. If you are going to patronize a place, you want consistency. I feel like Han's Royersford location is one of the most inconsistent places we go. It's a testament to how good the food can be that we keep coming back, but I really wish he could get, and keep, personnel here that know how to execute his menu. On the flip side, if you want to hit this place at a safe time, try the tasting and bring plenty of wine. It's great.
(2)
Trish S.
Hey! Think you've had good Chinese food? Well you're wrong, sucka! If you live anywhere near me, you MUST go to Han Dynasty in Royersford. Disclaimer: It will positively RUIN you for other Chinese food forever. Sorry. It will also make you realize that the stuff you've been eating is some sad practical joke that has been going on for decades. (Way to go, Chinese people! You totally got us.) If you don't live near me, you should go to one of the other locations in NYC or the greater Philly area. And if you don't go? Well, then you need to ask yourself why you would possibly want to ruin your life like that? You should stop practicing self sabotage and start practicing self love, or some shit like that. I'm pretty sure that's what Oprah would say. Disclaimer #2: They seem to like to play a mix CD of ballads from Disney princess movies. Perplexing.
(5)
George D.
A very good friend loves this place so much that on her visit back to Philadelphia, she diverted our caravan from an expedition to get Indian food to going here. Great choice. The place wasn't packed. Part of that could be that some soul marked this place as closed. No. They were very much open. Many Asians, few other cultural representatives. A friend ordered the Ma Po Tofu. I ordered a pork dish. All of it was fantastic. I will definitely get the tofu dish time. And I'm an unrepentant carnivore. She swears that it's the most authentic she's had since she visited China.
(4)
M J.
It does not hold up to the hype. No food is worth the lousy service and long wait. We (4 people) waited for our dinner for over an hour and the waitress never mentioned their was a delay or an issue. When we asked how much longer she then just avoided our table for another 20 min. We finally got up am left and she did not say a word. Two other tables followed us. I like to support local business but not when they treat you this way because they have a zagat rating on the door.
(1)
Dan K.
Have been here at least a dozen times and have never had a bad meal. The food is delicious and spicy. This is Sichuan cooking nothing like a typical Americanized Chinese food place. It is BYOB as well. Biggest warning I have to people is that once you have this you will never go back to your dull, greasy run of the mill chinese food again.
(5)
Leslie K.
Everything we had was amazing! We dined here for the first time on Tuesday and it was amazing. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. We decided on dan dan noodles, sweet potato cakes, orange chicken, fried rice with shrimp, honey walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, and tea smoked duck. Every dish was delicious and we had leftovers. The smoked duck was especially tasty & tender. Everyone in our party was beyond pleased. Great food, great experience, we'll be back!
(5)
Johana M.
We ordered the following: wontons in chili oil, pork belly in garlic sauce, Dan Dan noodles, dry pot (or something like that) beef, plain noodles for the kids, and ginger ice cream. The wontons were my favorite thing though they could've used a little salt or soy sauce (which wasn't readily available at your table). The Dan Dan noodles were good (my first time eating those). They had a particular spice flavor that I can't exactly explain. I'd order them again. The pork belly I was not into because it was cold (it was under the cold appetizers so I knew this - just wasn't into it). The flavor was good...but I guess I prefer hot food. Also it was similar to the flavor of the wontons except with garlic. The hot pot was good. I wish it had more cilantro and maybe some more notes to the flavor. As the meal progressed EVERYTHING was tasting the same. I was in need of some fresh lemon juice or something sweet or tart... The meal was kind of one note. Everything was tasty just one note. SO next time we plan on ordering smarter. We will order the wontons, Dan Dan noodles (these two had distinct different flavors from each other) and something that is sweet AND spicy. Overall it was a good meal and we will for sure be returning. The kids noodles were good for them :) (good flavor) and the ginger ice cream had little pieces of crystallized ginger. It was a good ending to our meal. Oh and the service was good.
(4)
Sarah J.
So darn good. I'm addicted. I save this for around my birthday every year or a group date night. When we started dating, my guy and I would go here pretty regularly, and have leftovers for two more meals. I try and coax as many people into coming with as possible. If I went more often, I would need to get a better job to handle my habit. Having tried many things on both sides of the menu, I've only really had one thing that I didn't like. I always ask the waiter what they recommend. Our waiter today was helpful and funny, and right on point. Back in the day we would be served by Han himself. youtube him, he is amazing. I will be making reservations for a group to join the monthly tastings. I understand how service could be tough from time to time. Again, maybe one visit in 6 years have we had a problem. Also great for a Monday option when wanting to dine out; in the restaurant biz that was our day off. I feel like if you are willing to taste new foods, and enjoy your eating experience, try a few things and let them know how hot you can handle and you can't go wrong. Order tons of things, eat it family style. Order the Walnut Honey Shrimp. My boyfriend swears by the dan dan noodles, which scare me, but that's ok. Better then average for sure, delivery would more then likely be profitable, but of course would depreciate the quality. Such a good meal tonight!
(5)
Michael P.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Philadelphia area. Firstly there's an actual authentic Chinese menu in addition to a separate menu containing the typical "Americanized" fare. Do yourself a favor and order from the authentic menu. The hot & sour soup is yummy, and the dry pepper chicken is delicious while providing lots of spicy flavor. I'm not familiar with many good options in the Limerick/Royersford area, so whenever my wife and I make a trip to the outlets and need a bite, we'll be sure to top here.
(5)
Joel D.
The food here is great. They have authentic chinese and Americanized. Everyone I have taken love the food. The reason for the two stars is recently I have had two bad experiences. First service was slow and it seemed like they had heat turned off. We all had to keep jackets on. Second time took about 5 min till they even came to seat us. Got seated and given water and then sat for another 10 minutes at which point we left. If you want good food order take from here. But know what you want their website is down and the response when I asked for takeout menu cause internet was down was that they dont have them...
(2)
Nicki A.
If you want AUTHENTIC Chinese food and like to try different things, this is a go-to place for you. Don't go here and order the sesame chicken, not that it won't be good, but there's a reason that and other similar dishes are under the "Americanized" section. The dan-dan noodles are a must every time. It's like an explosion of spicy umami goodness. We also got the squid salt and pepper style, and the pork intestine dry pot. Worth the price. So happy that there is unique food like this around here.
(5)
Julie R.
Picked up my order today and was waited on by Han!! What a nice surprise. He was funny and very nice. I'm so excited to have finally met him. And the food was perfect, as always!
(5)
Prasanna R.
Me and my wife dined here a couple of times and the food was pretty good. First time we visited for lunch. I ordered the 'Ma Po Tofu' and wife ordered the 'Singapore Rice Noodle'. Both were pretty good. The next time we visited for dinner. I ordered the 'General Tso's Fried Tofu' and wife got the 'Vegetable Lo Mein'. Well the vegetable lo mein was decent, I was very disappointed with the quantity of 'General Tso's'. For $12 it is way too tiny. That is why three stars. I would probably visit here again for lunch, not for dinner.
(3)
Greg L.
Stopped in here for dinner per a friends recommendation. It was a Friday evening and the place was pretty empty with only a few other tables filled. Service was friendly and good, although my water glass did sit empty for longer than I would have cared for. The menu consists of American Chinese and authenticate Chinese and we went with the American Chinese We started with the crab wontons, and I liked the fact that there was a decent amount of crab filling in the wontons. My wife and I shared the fried rice with chicken, shrimp, pork. It was a good size portion, but neither of us were overly impressed with the fried rice. It felt like normal rice with some veggies and meats mixed in. My wife went with the pepper steak which she really liked and I went with the sesame chicken, which was also fine. This is probably the first Chinese restaurant I've been to that didn't give you fortune cookies when you got your check. Overall though, a decent restaurant and we will likely be back.
(3)
Wallee W.
Update for 2014. Several recent trips in the past 6 months have been very much unsatisfactory. One time we went as a group, the place was like 50*F inside and service was terrible despite our group being the ONLY ones in the restaurant. Another time I got takeout and arrived 5 mins after the promised ready time and had to wait another 20 mins. The final nail in the coffin was today, I had a big group pick out stuff for a large takeout order for lunch. After herding all of those cats, I call at 11:30 (they open at 11:30), no answer. Call again at 11:35, no answer. 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, same deal. I said f*** it and picked another local Chinese place (which was a major hassle because alot of people picked Szechuan items that aren't standard at Americanized Chinese restaurants) and said so long to Han Dynasty for the foreseeable future. Based on other reviews, it seems these are not isolated incidents. If these guys want to stay in business, they need to focus on the stuff going on outside of the kitchen.
(1)
Paul C.
Had dinner at Han Dynasty over the weekend. A new redesigned menu made it a bit easier to decide. The spicy dishes are numbered from 1-10, 10 being the spicyest Some new items also. The chinese sausage appetizer with sliced garlic was delicious. The Mrs. had chicken with scallions...very tasty! Number 2 son enjoyed his beef lo mein, and i had #7 spicy pork. Very tasty, and yes, 7 is SPICY! Not just hot, very flavorful. The Americanized dishes are still available. A couple sat next to us and asked for a tofu dish not on the menu...the request was gladly accommodated, and when it came out it was beautiful! I had to ask what it was, and the nice couple offered to share some with us. It was fried tofu with dry hot peppers. WOW...it was amazing! They were very happy, and so were we.
(5)
Ben F.
For the hype factor I keep going back hoping things will change. I've tried Royersford and Exton a few times each and I'm done now. The food is bad. The service is horrendous. Its certainly not worth the price. I heard the restaurant underwent management change like 2 years ago. Maybe that is the problem.
(1)
Andrew M.
After careful consideration I will revisit this location. I was not aware that the owner sold the name to someone that ran it into the ground. So in all fairness, I will re-visit it with higher hopes. I have eaten at his other locations and found it to be great, so it pained me to give this location such a bad review. I will go back this weekend and hopefully remove my previous yelp entry.
(3)
Dave S.
He sold it to someone who ran it into the ground and was giving his good name a trashing, but Han is back in RoFo!!! My first experience was amazing, thanks to Han's guidance, and my most recent was mind-blowing...and SPICY!! Still BYOB.
(5)
Diana B.
The service was not good. They forgot my vegetable fried rice and forgot to remove it from the bill. We also waited forever to get service and the Restaurant wasn't even packed. Nonetheless, the food was delicious.
(3)
Anne C.
Best authentic Sichuan style Chinese food in the Norristown area. Their spice rivals that of no other Asian restaurant in the area. I recommend looking at the authentic Chinese menu and get the Beef Tendon in Hot Sauce (sounds a bit sketchy but I assure you it is worth every chewy bite), triple delight chicken (ask to have it without the bones, perfect tenderness achieved), and Chicken with Hot Dry Pepper. The food was nothing short of amazing. Wish I was there now...
(4)
G S.
Unfortunately, I need to recount all the wonderful things I shared regarding this restaurant over the 2 1/2 preceding years. The quality was truly exceptional with fantastic attention to detail at one point. At this time, I cannot fathom how they have mustered 4-5 4+ star reviews in the past 10 days without paying for them or hiring a new chef and management staff. The employees were rude and on one occasion showed up 45 minutes after they were scheduled to open and told me that it would only take a minute to get the kitchen open. Laughingly, all of my Co-workers now refer to that establishment as HandyNasty as I once jokingly referred to it after a bad experience.
(1)
Ron D.
In town for business. Heard the food was good so had to try it out. Food, atmosphere and service was amazing. Don't be afraid to stray from what you usually get from your local place. Waiter suggested some choices off the menu and I can't wait to go back on my next trip out this way.
(5)
Karen M.
Not like regular Chinese takeout / Chinese American food. Has some really good dishes. Great date spot and just as good for takeout! My son loves he pork belly and I love the beef cooked hot sauce style. Very different but extremely spicy.
(5)
Gerald F.
Dan dan noodle. Salt and pepper shrimp. Spicy cucumber. Bok choy mushrooms. Love spicey food.
(5)
Mike S.
My wife and I walked in after several referrals to find a disaster unfolding in front of us. Many people had to leave, there was only one chef and they were running out of ingredients left and right. I mean items like chicken broth, wontons, beef, etc... We asked for a refund, but the order was done, so we thought we would try it. Well if you like only the taste of salt, then this would win the prize. Please, trust me, do not go to this restaurant, they will be out of business in two months.
(1)
Kim L.
2 things happened. I was out this way shopping and I stumbled into the shopping center. Always wanted to try the most buzzed about place in Philly ( yelp at least). But I hate driving and parking in the city and other locations are out of the way. As soon as I saw the sign I had to go in. My friend and I weren't disappointed by the Dan Dan noodles. We both are hooked! Everything else was above average Chinese fare . Han dynasty seems to be opening up locations everywhere. How about bucks county! Please, I'm jonesing! Lol!
(4)
Tom U.
This is one of the best Chinese restaurants in the entire Philadelphia area. Their authentic cuisine is unique and satisfying while the chefs have the ability to cater to your particular tastes. We love it. Our kids love it. It is a nice place to eat-in or have take-out.
(5)
Talia A.
Fantastic! We always order from the authentic menu and it has always been amazing. I would highly recommend it to everyone. After searching for years for a good Chinese restaurant, someone recommended Han Dynasty to us last year and now it is our favorite restaurant.
(5)
Bob S.
Did takeout one day from here and was extremely pleased. Looks like it could be a good place to eat in. One of the few BYOB around. Staff seamed very energetic providing a pleasent place to eat.
(4)
Johny G.
Average Chinese takeout. Too pricey. And service-without-smile at counter is a no-go. Too many competitors nearby to go back for more abuse. So sorry.
(2)
Matt B.
If you want authentic Chinese food, this is the place. They have a few other locations in Manayunk and Philadelphia, however, I've found the Royersford location to have the best food and a more relaxed atmosphere. Service speed varies, but trust me, it's worth the wait!
(5)
Dennis L.
Stopped by this little shop in a strip mall for lunch. I know of its high pedigree, being owned by the same owner as the ones in philadelphia. The Lunch special is cheap. I ordered off the authentic menu because I was told a head of time the Americanized dishes weren't that great (and that seems to be the case when I tried other people's orders off that list). I went with the Mapo Tofu w/ pork because that's a favorite of mine. The combo comes with rice, your choice of either hot and sour or egg drop soup, and an entree. The Hotand Sour soup is very flavorful and has a good kick to it. I was sweating from both the heat of the soup, the heat from the spice, and the heat from the restaurant (there's a/c but they need to turn that up for a Schwezwan style restaurant). The Mapo Tofu was a bit spicy and heavy on the chili oil, but the flavor was great. It really wasn't as spicy as I expected and that was ideal. I don't like super spicy stuff, but I hear they turn it down if you come with non asian people. I've had it take out at a friends' (same location) and it was deathly spicy oil, but it was also colder and the oil had congealed. either way, I'm a definite fan, just not of congealed spicey oil stuff. Eat it warm.
(4)
Dave H.
Try the cumin lamb[1], it's worth making the trip here[2]. Savory, and very Szechuan. Their cooking is outstanding, authentic to a T. Everything is quite good and, in some cases, packs a decent amount of heat. Picky eaters can order Americanized Chinese; there's a section on the menu labeled as such. Fantastic service. An upscale interior makes you forget you're in a suburban strip mall; comically, Han Dynasty's layout is damn near identical to Sang Kee Wynnewood. Coincidence? Thanks to my friend for suggesting Han Dynasty! [1] Sorry vegetarians. On the bright side, there are many non-meat menu selections. [2] Don't feel like driving? Han Dynasty has a few other locations in the area.
(5)
BostonBestEats X.
DOING THE NASTY IN THE 'BURBS Although I work only ~10 minutes drive from this outpost of Handy Nasty, I've never been, despite having visited the Old City location many times and being a complete spice-nick (LOL, I actually find HD not spicy enough, having "grown up" on the legendary Sichuan Gourmet in Billerica MA). Part of it may be that I've heard variable reports about the various non-Old City HD locations, as illustrated by the many 5-stars, but quite a few 1-stars that this location receives on Yelp (and maybe my skepticism regarding the prevalence of Chinese food gourmands in the 'burbs--OK, sue me, I'm an ethnic food snob). Anyway, I decided I was going to take my staff here for a holiday party (a Chinese lady who reports to me insisted we go somewhere besides Iron Hill for a change!). Just to be sure I wasn't taking them to a terrible spot, I went for dinner the evening before to check it out (I'm such a considerate boss!). And I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. HD-Royersford is actually a very attractive restaurant, appealing to me more than the Old City location, although it is located in the Limerick strip mall (just off the exit from 422). When we arrived at ~5:15PM on a weeknight, we were the first customers in the moderately sized (~50 seats) restaurant, which is decorated in an understated Chinese motif. Perhaps giving rise to some of the 1 star reviews and complaints about slow service, there appeared to only 1 server and 1 chef. But the 3 dishes we ordered arrived in quick succession within 5 minutes. By the time we left there were a couple of other tables occupied, but this location doesn't seem to be remotely as busy as the always-packed HD-OC. Interestingly, in contrast to HD-OC, there are "American" and "Traditional Chinese" pages on the menu, which are then divided up by ingredients like most Chinese restaurants, as opposed to the completely traditional menu in Old City that is uniquely divided up by cooking styles. Which concerned me as to authenticity. But, not to worry, the 3 traditional-style dishes we selected were excellent... We enjoyed (with complementary rice): 1) Eggplant in Garlic Sauce $6.50--Just tender enough, not falling apart, perfect. Moderately spicy. 2) Sanbeji (3-cup chicken)--This was on the clearly-not-updated-weekly "weekly top 10" dishes menu. A popular Taiwanese dish featured in a Sichuan restaurant? But at least it was a good version, piping hot, with a thick, somewhat sweet sauce, not as completely reduced as some versions I've so the tender cubed chicken wasn't as well done (some purists may not like it for that reason). As expected, only slightly spicy, so a good choice if you're not a spice-nick. 3) Lamb in Cumin $13.95--One of HD-OC's specialities, I actually preferred this version. I've only had it once at OC, and was mystified as to why it is so popular, but I quite enjoyed it this time around and should maybe give it another chance downtown. Spicy. Lunch the next day with my staff was also enjoyable (although I let them pick most of the dishes and I don't think they did quite as good a job at it, despite 15 minutes of arguing, as we did the previous evening). There is a lunch menu, but we were also able to order off the dinner menu. The Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) I insisted on experimenting with, against my better judgement, were serviceable, but I wouldn't order them again (it's almost impossible to find really good ones in the US--another dish the Taiwanese do better than anyone). However, on the down side, the service was a lot slower, again because there seemed to only be 1 or 2 servers. It took us 30 minutes to start getting our food and it came out slowly, so the lunch lasted 1 1/2 hours (we arrived at 12:30 and 2/3rds of the restaurant was occupied, so reservations were not necessary). All in all, the food was very good (although I still prefer Old City, and Han's quirky personality), but the service is likely to be very slow unless you arrive early, so I'm going to knock them down a star for that. But I'll definitely be back, given how convenient it is to work. BYOB. Easy parking in the lot out front. Oh, and that Chinese lady was quite impressed with the food. Which, if you know any Chinese ex-pats, you will realize is VERY high praise indeed, since they think Americans don't know how to mix Dan Dan noodles for themselves. Sláinte!
(3)
Yoshi F.
Who would expect to find authentic Szechuan food in Royersford? Food is awesome and definitely worth the hype.
(5)
Don B.
This place has really gone down hill like many other reviewers state. The service was always been an issue, but they have taken it to a whole new level. Combine that with a big drop off in food consistency and quality and I felt the need to also revise my review. One of the last times I was in, I placed a small to go order. The bill was less than 10$ and I only had a credit card and a 100$ bill. I offer him the credit card and he complains that it's not enough for a credit card. Sure, that's a reasonable response to some degree. I then offer him 100$ cash to which he whines at me that I don't have a smaller bill. I tell him to take his pick, but it's all I have. He very reluctantly charges my credit card and I leave without further issue. I thought this story was kind of funny and evident of a business that has no idea what they are doing. On a positive note , they did fix their signage so it now lights up after several months (years?) of not working. Let it be a beacon of light telling you to steer clear.
(1)
Lawrence H.
Han is back and the quality shows. Order from the authentic side of the menu! Spicy and tasty.
(5)
Chris d.
I hate to write a bad review for this place, as my friends rave about it. But I must disagree with them after my last visit. I will say also that I was disappointed that no one in charge really seemed to care...which is a symptom of growing larger than the owners can properly manage and hence poor products are delivered to the customer because no one in the building cares. I ordered the General Tsau's chicken platter for lunch. The wonton soup starter was bland (which is ok), but the chicken had a fish flavor...you know, when they fry fish in the same fryer as everything else. Ultimately the fryer oil gets a fishy taste and everything tastes a little fishy. Any decent restaurant will cook all fish in a designated fryer. With this in mind, and the fact that I hate the taste of fish, I said something to the waiter at the end of the meal. I also stated that I was not looking for a free meal. Bottom line...whether I was looking for a free meal or not, someone should have come out of the back and asked me about my concern. The waiter stated that it was not possible and his solution was to offer me a can of Coke (even though we had only water with our meals). I don't care if the waiter barely spoke English...whoever was in charge (and it was not the waiter) should have come out and asked me about it. I paid my bill in full and left without anyone saying anything else. Well since no one in that restaurant seems to care, I (and the work group I occasionally dine with) will not be dining there again. Disappointed Customer!
(1)
Michael L.
The food is really good and they have authentic cuisine. That's about it for positives. Communication is very poor. I've ordered take out three times from here. Every time they forgot something. The last time, my wife went to pick up the food so she didn't check in the bag. They not only missed an item, but when we had to drive back they were out of it. What? They couldn't call us? Let us know when we came to pick it up? Nope. Not only that, but what made it worse was when we ordered we had to change two things already because "Oh, we out of that" or "sorry, no that". They need: 1.) A better english speaker - to better cover the language barrier 2.) Delivery 3.) Much better service
(2)
Jason K.
Unfortunately something very bad happened to this place in the past year. As others have mentioned the food and service are terrible and what used to be my favorite Asian restaurant is now one I avoid. It seems like the Royersford restaurant became the proverbial redheaded stepchild of the chain. What a shame.
(1)
Alex M.
More like Handy Nasty. And by that I mean, very very very good. As many have noted, the Dan Dan noodles rock. Even staples like the wonton soup are absolutely wonderful. I can't recommend one dish over another. There aren't many stellar, authentic, reasonably priced restaurants of any kind in Philadelphia, IMHO, and you're talking to a serious foodie here. Handy Nasty is the rare exception. The only reason for my 4 instead of 5 stars is that the menu seldom varies, even across HN's proliferating branches. And where the gifts of the chef and staff are so considerable, there's no excuse for that. Rotate or add to the regular dishes, and feature a weekly or daily special or two--please, Han! Diners, please remember that if you're not a spice person, or feel unsure what to expect heat-wise, dishes can be adjusted to have little or no heat. Also, look for Han himself at this and other locations. His wit is as dry and delicious as the dry rub.
(4)
Matt K.
OK, this time I had help from a friend, and holy COW, this food was fantastic! Three hungry gents visited the Royersford Han Dynasty and ordered: duck in beer sauce, "popcorn" chicken (forget the actual name), Kung Pao chicken, whole fish, bok choy and mushrooms, cumin lamb. Spice levels were high but manageable, you could choose to eat as many or as few of the hot peppers in each dish that you wanted. The cuisine is definitely head and shoulders above any other Chinese cuisine that I have ever tasted. All the dishes were done to perfection, but the duck had a few too many bones. Our server was very friendly and helpful too. The decor is rather modern and you do forget that you are in a mall when you step inside. All in all a wonderful experience, and I will be back.
(5)
Brian M.
I have become such a regular here, I think the staff are beginning to wonder if I'm stalking them. The food is tremendous. Yes, it's a bit spicy, but you can ask them to tone it down and they will. But if you like a bit of spice, just trust the cooks. I'm not a "super hot" kind of guy, and I've only had one dish that was too much heat for me. Also try the "authentic" side of the menu. That's were the real gems of this place will be found. But even the "Americanized" side of the menu will beat what you get at 99% of Chinese restaurants. I've only had one dish here I didn't like: The Curried Noodles. They detract from an otherwise phenomenal menu. A tad bit more expensive than the normal Chinese joint, but worth every cent! And a BYOB to boot! You have to try it. You'll soon be stalking Han Dynasty too. Tip: Double-cooked fish!!!!!
(5)
Jen J.
I am quite amazed by the five star rating up here. I am Chinese and have been to this restaurant no less than 7-8 times. While the food is fairly authentic, the one thing that has always annoyed me was how incredibly salty everything was 50% of the times that I have been here. On these days, all I could taste was salt and the people (I went with different groups) in my groups agreed. I find it distasteful that instead of admitting that the chef may have heavy handed the salt portion (I suspect he or the alternate chef is a smoker), the waitress/hostess always suggests that we have "light" tastes and that the next time we go we need to let them know ahead of time. Um....excuse us for having "irregular" tastebuds but there is nothing wrong with my salt evaluation, especially considering half the times the dishes are fine and not overly salty. I have travelled extensively for work throughout the continental US and have lost count of the Chinese restaurants that I have visited. I KNOW when there is too much salt in the dishes, and this happens very rarely. I find it insulting that a restaurant consistently points out to me that my tastebuds are unusual and that i need to request low sodium upfront. I have never had to do that at any other places and am not about to start.
(3)
Jeremy L.
If you are accustomed to the Han Dynasty in Exton, do not go here. I was excited to see that a Han Dynasty was nearby in Royersford. Boy, my excitement flew out the window! The service is subpar, and I thought it was very odd that this place was not very busy on a Friday night. I just thought that people didn't know about this place. I got my food to go and ordered the dan dan noodles, and a sweet and sour chicken. I got home and was more excited than a child on Christmas morning. I started with the dan dan noodles (and I must admit you get a giant container of them), however when I started to eat these noodles they were spicier than anything I have ever experienced before. I just wrote it off that these were just a spice that I wasn't accustomed to. Then I started to eat the sweet and sour chicken, the sauce was on the side, and the chicken was just the typical Americanized version of puffed deep fried tasteless chicken. I spent around $20 and I threw my sweet and sour chicken out. I called my friend that loves Han Dynasty (Exton location) and told him I would bring him the dan dan noodles so he and his wife could enjoy them. I warned him that they are spicy, and he said that he wasn't concerned because he orders them all of the time. After he and his wife tried the noodles, they threw them out agreeing that it tasted like spaghetti mixed with the hottest sauce on earth and over seasoned. I will never return, even if the management would give me a complimentary meal. I am very disappointed, and never thought my first 1 star review would go to Han Dynasty!
(1)
Jimmy K.
The best of both worlds! The authentic tastes were new, and of course the familiar Americanized dishes will be ideal for the non adventurous. The service is shotty at best, but the food more than makes up for that department. Will most likely want to go again when I'm carving the spicy Szechuan taste! Warning for those who've never had Szechuan cuisine, beware of the dishes that contain Szechuan peppercorns... It straight up numbs your tongue which can be quite intense for those not used to the sensation.
(4)
Atif I.
Which is the odd one out? a) Beef with Broccoli b) General Tso's Chicken c) Sesame chicken d) Szechuan French Fries The answer, obviously, is d. However, not for the apparently obvious reason, but for the fact that this dish, (not on the menu) is the only 'authentic' one of the four listed above. I have a beef, no pun intended, with Americanized Chinese food. I HATE IT! No seriously, I can't stand it. I would think in the last ten years, the cuisine I've had the least is Chinese. It's less to do with the fact that I was raised on Szechuan, Hunan and Hakka, for my subsequent Asian travels acquainted me with Cantonese, Fujian, and Xinjiang. But, it was only in the glorious land of the free that I was acquainted with the 'Blandese' cuisine that insults the good name of Chinese cooking. There's good reason why the food blogs and critics rave about Han Dynasty. The Szechuan dishes are at their fiery best here with no attempt to hold back on the heat that would make you sweat buckets on a sub freezing winter day or cry rivers of tears at Mardi Gras - Han Dynasty truly brings HD into restaurants serving Szechuan cuisine on the East Coast. The dry pot of flounder fillets (melt in the mouth texture!) served in a mini-wok over a blue flame has got to be the best dish I've had in a while. It engulfs you in an intoxicating pleasure pain two-step much like the irresistible allure of the bad boy/girl. You know the attraction will cause you pain and tears, but from the cold dishes of the Chengdu capital to the spitfire hot and pungent dishes from Chongqing you will experience a truly unique range of emotions. It's not all heat, though. You can appreciate layers of flavors (e.g. in the marinated and flash-fried cumin lamb), and textures (e.g. the fried potatoes descriptively named in 'd') not simply the peppercorns, chillies, and hot bean paste. The one thing I personally relate with HD is the absolute and utter contempt the owner, Han has for the mundane dishes popularly deemed as Chinese (e.g. selections 'a' and 'b' in the pattern recognition question at the beginning of the review). In fact, he would be the first to rubbish his own versions of them, listed on the menu under "Americanized". Han is courageously fighting a battle for authenticity, at times one would think at a cost to himself, for friends have mentioned that there might be an element of sabotage, not simply disdain for the garden variety General Tso chicken - dry, rubbery and bland. The fortune cookie at the end, might as well have been presented at the start of the meal for the prediction of "your wish is about to come true" had indeed. Some inconsistency aside, Han offers seriously sensational Szechuan... now repeat that quickly ("seriously sensational Szechuan") to give your tongue another work-out to save it from the "tingly numbing" sensation commonly experienced. Me... I douse all fire with Capogiro gelato.
(5)
Ruth H.
Worst han dynasty experience. Wish I had read Andrew M. review before I ate here. Really enjoyed other han dynasty locations. We also ordered kung pao chicken on the authentic menu and it was horrible. This is the parts of the chicken we throw away. We told the manager and after arguing for several minutes, he took it off the bill. Dan dan noodles were ok. Won't be going back to Royersford location ever. Much smaller menu than other locations with no descriptions.
(1)
Robert T.
Ate dinner here last Friday. Got there a little ahead of the crowd. Very pleasant ambiance. Had chicken in garlic sauce and my son had Kung Pao chicken. My elderly parents tried noodle dishes, pork and beef but didn't think there was enough meat and were disappointed. Oddly, we only were given water to drink and were not asked if we wanted drinks of any other kind, such as the traditional tea pot. The hostess/waitress was very kind and took time to explain the dishes but service was very, very slow, to the extent that it really brought the dining experience down for us. Parking was generous and the men's room was clean. I think it might be better to order the food in "take out" as a way to experience their food but without the very slow service.
(3)
Christopher D.
Grab your water bottle and head to Han Dynasty. I just had a great lunch that included stellar dishes like dumplings in hot oil, dan dan noodles, and twice cooked pork. Service was great and the food paired well with a hoppy beer from Stones. Cannot wait to have more.
(4)
Enrique C.
This is a great chinese restaurant. I go to eat there everytime I have a chance (this means everytime my wife wants to go... ha ha ha). The flavours and the taste of the dishes are very good and you can differentiate the ingredients used. The food is szechuan, so if you like spicy food, this is the deal. I can not recommend a dish because I would write the whole menu. The service is very friendly and do not forget to ask for their spicy veggie pickles... they do not usually give it unless you ask for it. For me, this Chinese restaurant is in my Top 3 (the other 2 are in San Francisco).
(5)
Chris M.
Real Chinese. Really good, however service has gone down and quality has too. That being said better than anything around here.
(5)
Brandon G.
Food is fantastic. Service, not so much. Waitress made fun of my picky eat in wife for ordering "american food". All of us excluding my wife had the Dan Dan noodles, curried beef tendon (served cold) , pork belly, pork fried green beans & fried dumplings. We asked for the dumplings to be fried on both sides and our waitress laughed and said "oh chef won't do that, too many other orders" to which I reminded her we were paying for our food so it had better be the way we asked. other than that everything was fantastic.
(4)
Kevin W.
The signage and the strip mall location might leave doubters wondering if they should be going to the grocery store instead, but have faith. Upon opening the menu you'll see egg rolls and general tso's and... oh thank god that's just the page of Americanized grub. If you turn it one more time you get to the good stuff, under the Authentic heading. We had the meat buns, the rabbit and peanuts in chili oil, the lamb in cumin and the twice cooked pork ribs. Everything was excellent, though the lamb in cumin was oddly better at the end of the meal than it was at the beginning. (In the beginning it felt a little bit one-note, but it got better with each bite.) I'm definitely coming back.
(5)
Cliff J.
Really, in my back yard? Craig Laban (Philly Inquirers master restaurant reviewer) gives Hans three bells (Excellent) out of four. For those that follow Craig, we know the rarity of a three bell restaurant as most of his reviews are one or two bells. So this obviously caught my attention. Hands down, Hans Dynasty is the absolute BOMB for Chinese cuisine. Simply awesome. I ordered take out only, so I cannot comment on the table service. Although, the dining room was completely full and smiles could be seen everywhere. The staff seemed friendly and were attentive while I was waiting for my order to be completed, quickly welcoming new guests as they walked through the door. The decor is modern Chinese and definitely reflects the origin of the menu. Visually, it is a mix of complimentary textures and colors, Large slate tile married with natural woods in warm red tones. The space is small, and fills quickly, but the noise level didn't seem too bad. In the back of the dinning area was a finishing station, mirrored with a large frosted window behind which the primary kitchen. Every so often you see bursts of flame through the frosted glass as dishes are prepared. Way cool. The dining area is very clean, even after a full year in business. So here's what we got witha brief review for each. Sweet and sour cucumbers - Crisp, bright with a nice sweetness and hint of spice. Each diagonally cut wedge was nearly the same size demonstrating real attention to detail and of course, some serious knife skills. Dumplings with chili oil - Savory and salty (not too salty though). These are the best dumplings I have ever tasted. The sesame seeds added a nice texture to the soft dumpling. Dan Dan Noodles - I have to say, this was not a hit for me. The flavor was obvious and the spice well-balanced. The noodles have a licorice overtone. Thats not a criticism, it just doesn't favor my palette. I can see why people like this dish. Chicken with broccoli - Again, this was a huge winner with myself and my girlfriend. Nice sweetness and a really unique flavor. I NEVER order chicken, but I would order this again. Double cooked pork - This was my favorite dish on this visit. The pork was tender and juicy, thinly sliced in a wonderful sauce. It did have a little kick, but like all other "spicy" dishes, it was never overpowering. Pork lo mein - This is my usual favorite noodle. Again, this may sound repetitive, but the best lo mein I've ever had. Tons of flavor, perfectly cooked. Period. In all of our food, the freshness of the ingredients shined through. The flavors were well balanced against the spicy ingredients. In addition, each dish was unique. Nothing had a similar taste or flavor. My girlfriend and I could not stop eating. Even after three plate fulls, mixed with eat menu item, we were ready for more. We settled on saving the rest for lunch the next day. The portions are pretty good for the price. All the food listed cost a total of $54. A great value. Look, this is a must stop. Wether you go to the Philly, Exton or Royersford locations, just go. IF YOUF FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL, PLEASE RATE IT AND SEND ME A COMPLIMENT. ONLY TAKES A SECOND!!!
(4)
Percy N.
Han got a new Chef from a well known Sichuan restaurant in NYC. As hard as it is to believe, the food is even better. Hard to put a finger on what is different, but the dishes are just slightly tweaked...in a good way. If you are not in the mood for something spicy (I know, its odd) then try the Crispy rice with chicken. Go check it out !!
(5)
Jim H.
This review is as much for the UYE ARSE event as it is for the establishment. Honestly, I'm comfortable with my boring eating habits. Lately however, Ive been forced out of my culinary comfort zone. I often feel like the grumpy guy from "Green Eggs and Ham" (did he have a name? Was it Jim?) I will not eat Tripe and Pig Intestines I will not eat them in a car I will not eat them on a bar. I will not eat them piled high with amazingly hot chile peppers. I came to Han Dynasty with some great people, with the intention of trying some new things and burning my face off at the same time. Han's is in an unassuming strip mall. Its often been said about UYE's, that the quality of the company is so great, that the location is inconsequential. I would usually agree but in this case, Han Dynasty (and more specifically, Han himself) was like the 10th guest and intergal to the fun of the evening. Hans has a very cool and inviting decor and we were set up right in the middle of the action. We had a very funny and entertaining server, who I later found out was the owner, Han, himself. His level of humor and honesty is unmatched. When jokingly asked by one of us, how the General Tso Chicken is, he replied, " Its Shit!" He definitely encouraged us and( by the segmented Authentic/ Americanized menu) others to steer clear of the normal Chinese food staples and try authentic Chinese cuisine. Our group, was full of knowledgeable, worldly people and it enhanced the whole experience. Between the conversation, and the food I was overwhelmed. They made it easy for me to try things and my God! there was alot to try. Steaming plates of spicy goodness, fantastic wine, sweat inducing pallate spankers. Everyone left stuffed. I love how there was a menu insert, which told you the specials, as well as the Top Ten most popular entrees of the month. I could almost hear Casey Kasem reading them off to me. ..... " And now, at #5 dedicating this to his one legged cat, Tea smoked Duck!" It was through this list that I made my choice of entree, Double fried Beef strips (3 chile rating out of 4!) It was awesome and widely considered a good choice. Owwwww! I just injured my arm patting myself on the back. It was just as good the next day, while I sat in my car on my lunch break at work. It was also somehow hotter the next day as I also sat in my car contemplating guzzling antifreeze to offset the heat. As stated earlier, we left Hans, entertained, stuffed and ready for round 2 at a date to be named later.I had been debating going but once again, I was glad that I overcame my initial fears of trying new things. Ill leave you with some observations of the event. - The women who showed up, (including Aaron) were stunning in both appearance and charm. - I haven't had such good wine in ages. Between Caroline's husband's homemade white and the Francis Ford Coppola Red (better than Godfather 3 -not as good as The Outsiders) there couldn't have been a better accompaniment to the meal. - Han was amazing and we were honored to get the VIP treatment from him. He was like the Asian Chris Rock, cracking us up with his "blue" material. My favorite , was his idea of "different" fortune cookies. The only one that is printable was " That wasn't Chicken, you just ate" - Its funny to watch beads of sweat, form on bald guys heads. - I feel truly sorry for those that didn't attend. Dont make the same mistake in the future.
(5)
David Z.
worst experience in years. Revisited this restaurant with several colleagues to celebrate Chinese new year. we were all disappointed. Waited over 20min for hot tea and the rice was cold and hard (last night's left over?) Food quality and service, 2 thumbs down! They need to fix this place up fast!
(1)
Nick B.
I am definitely a fan of Han. This location is not too far from my house, in a strip mall near Rita's Water Ice in Royersford. The interior is nicely decorated, though a little dim. I swear I've been seated at the same table for the past three times! As far as appetizers go, yes, I'll reiterate what almost everyone else has said: get the Dan Dan noodles! They are delicious and have just the right amount of spiciness. For entrees - I've had the pork lo mein (huge portions, might I add!) Also, the Three Cup Chicken is a very good pick. Not too spicy at all, and just the right amount of savory. Service is generally decent, although the other night they only had one chef on duty (!) and thus, the service suffered greatly. Definitely a 3 star night. But on the whole, Han is generally pretty good, so they deserve at least 4 stars for all of the other good times.
(4)
J M.
Went on a Sunday Night with 2 companions. Only about 4 other tables, with 2 people waiting for takeout, It took almost 10 minutes to flag down the solitary waiter to take our drink orders. He scampered away before we could tell him that we were ready to order. We finally ordered soup and entrees after about 20 minutes. soup came 15 minutes later after a reminder, and on and on - the first entree came out over an hour after we ordered, and it took us another 5 minutes to confirm that the other entrees waren't ready yet, so we asked that they be put in carry-out boxes - which STILL took an inordinate amount of time. Hard to blame the server - he hardly stopped to take a breath the whole time we were there, taking orders for takeout, boxing and running the takeout, occasionally taking orders or bringing out whatever the kitchen had been able to make. some of the others there waiting for takeout said that there was usually at least one more server there on Sundays.s I'm not big on demanding compensation for poor service, but I was rather amazed that they charged us the full amount after such a lousy performance. in any case, I didn't want to wait around any longer to complain.
(1)
James F.
I hear a lot of people talk about the "spice" and that this establishment "rivals" other restaurants flavors. I have to admit, the food is pretty good however you'd be talking about the hot and spicy Sichuan Pepper Oil, the Chili Oil and, the Cilantro and Lemon Grass, etc. I just sent a message to the business and want to hear back. I want to know what happened to my Sliced Beef and Tripe with Chili Oil. The last three times I ordered it was simply not the same. This, above all was the most incredible, most addictive thing I've ever eaten and they freaking changed it. No longer hot, filled with vinegar at times and who knows what happened to that lemony zing you only get from Sichuan Pepper Oil. I'm pissed. On a better note, things like the Tea Smoked Duck, the "authentic" wontons and such are still pretty good. Everything is fresh, never a problem with that. I am just unbelievably disappointed that the recipes seems to change day to day. The customer service cracks me up sometimes but not in a bad way. The people are totally cool to deal with and they often comment that I only order the really hardcore menu items. I'll update after a while, I haven't given up. Please bring back whoever was making those dishes.
(3)
Irene G.
We had out of town guests and decided to go to our favorite Chinese restaurant Han Dynasty in Royersford, Pa. What an embarrassment and complete disaster this turned into. There were nine of us for dinner last Sunday night (3/24/2013). We waited quite a while for a very inexperienced waiter to come to our table. We had to ask several times for a pot of tea while we were deciding what to order. When it was finally delivered no cups were brought with the one pot for nine people. Realizing they were having trouble serving customers, we streamlined our order by having one person order for all of us. Not seeing one of our favorite dishes on the menu that we had ordered many times previously (eggplant with shrimp stuffing) she replied "no comprendo". A 2nd server who appeared very inexperienced just shrugged his shoulders when we asked the same question but he did take our order. After an additional 45 minute wait we demanded that our dinner be served. Two main dishes came out before appetizers, and only bowl out of 5 soups were served. Another long wait to get more main dishes and appetizers, still no soup for 4 of us. We demanded the soup and it came out lukewarm and not very tasty. All the other appetizers and main dishes came out haphazardly and were lukewarm at best. It was just a disaster. The house special fried rice was especially disappointing. It only contained a shred of pork and a few peas, without any flavor. It did not look fried at all. Our favorite dish the tea duck came out as we finished dinner and we told server to take it back as we had enough! What a complete disaster and so embarrassing to us because we bragged how great this place was to our guests. As we left other tables with customers were complaining and even the folks that ordered take out were complaining. The food needs to be served in the correct order, hot, and the service needs to be greatly improved. Han Dynasty was our favorite Chinese restaurant so we'll give it one more try in a few weeks to see if it improves. If not we won't return.
(1)
Danan R.
The three cup chicken, crystal wontons in chili oil, dry woked beef, and boiled fish in hot sauce were excellent. The boiled fish dish tasted very similar to a dish that I had at Shanghai's South Beauty a few months ago. Nice! I have had better Dan Dan noodles from Mary Chung in Cambridge, but the dish here was decent enough. They specialize in Szechuan dishes so be sure to get those here. I wouldn't come here for Americanized Chinese food or your typical Cantonese cuisine, but their Szechuan entrees are fairly authentic and quite spicy. Definitely recommend.
(4)
D.R. S.
I really wanted to give this place good ratings....but with service this poor I just can't. Called to get reservations, and they told me they were full, and hung up. Still, i persisted, due to the high ratings on Yelp. We showed up and were eventually seated. Menu gives no description of the food you are ordering, so I asked help from the waiter (of which there were only 2) and he was no help. Ordered the Pork Belly, inedible, Kung Pao, okay, and the dumplings, good. Had to suffer through the spice with 1 glass of water, only to have the waiter come over when we were ready for the check, and ask for a refill. Want to go back, but maybe not on a Saturday when they are so busy.
(2)
John Z.
Haven't been here in awhile. Originally liked it because it was so authentic, delicious, and vibrant. My wife and I decided to return last Friday night. Turns out things have changed. It started out with the menus---it looked like they had been tossed in a dumpster and then scavenged to be reused. They were dirty, stained, ripped, and in some places you couldn't read the writing. But what the heck---things like that happen. We were just happy to sit, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the food and ambiance. Until the show started. The wait staff (and I use the term loosely) was unbelievable. The front of the house was staffed by three young guys (all in high school). Nice, pleasant young guys, but so inexperienced it was laughable. As we sat wide-eyed, one waiter ran from one end of the restaurant to the front, while two others yelled to each other across the room. Twice while we sat there, customers who had come in to pick up their takeout orders inspected the bagged items only to come up with incorrect or missing items. Then our spastic trio hemmed and hawed and ran around some more. Really, this was more of a floor show than we expected. It looked like there was no adult supervision. After a reasonable wait, our appetizers arrived. My wife had to flag down one of the guys twice to get some dipping sauce. The appetizers weren't very good, tasting doughy and dry (and lukewarm). Then, about 30 seconds into our appetizers, my entree arrived, but not my wife's, which came 10 minutes later. Both entrees were just average---nothing like the excellent food we remembered. Plus, our waiter never brought us any rice---even after we asked. I could understand all of this if the house was packed with customers, but at 7 PM on a Friday night there were just the two of us and a table of three and a table of six---not quite a packed house. When finally we ended this less than stellar meal, our pleasant waiter came over to our table and handed us the bill---no questions whether we wanted something else or the traditional fortune cookie. My guess is all the fortune cookies probably said, "You will never return to this restaurant again."
(2)
Josh C.
We gave this place one last shot because we heard it had returned to its old glory. Well, definitely not so. The food was meh, the tables were dirty (I had to call the waiter back twice to wipe it, then he took the lazy suzan away to clean it and returned it still with some dried food on it). The bathrooms are gross. This place was fantastic up until 3 years ago. It is now smelly and the food and the service are really marginal. So sad- I used to spend about $100/month at this place on lunch. Never again. Someone who knows the owner should really set them straight. And the health department should pay them a visit.
(2)
Kunal P.
res ipsa loquitur (in its literal meaning)
(4)
Harikrishnan N.
Worst food ever .... N worst service ever...wud hv given 0 star if its possible.... Food quality is so bad... They dont refill the water... Miss many food items.... They'll ruin your evening or best family lunch or whatever it is.....
(1)
Abby G.
We have been big vocal fans of this place since it opened. Went last week and it was embarrassingly horrible. Worse than their typical service, greasy food, unidentifiable chicken, place is dirty. Sad
(1)
Andy S.
I can say without hyperbole that you won't find anything better than this restaurant anywhere, in any time, in any dimension. Why? Because of the...the flavor. The kind of flavor you crave in your dreams. I've wanted to dine here every since I heard about it some time ago (thank you, Yelp). Never in my life would I think "gosh, I really want some authentic, spicy Chinese food...to Royersford I shall go!", but thanks to Yelp, I did. The lure of "the spicy" was too much to resist. You see, I like spicy food, and I can hardly ever get my fix anywhere. Semi-ironically located right next to Palermo's, and with bottles (and cans) from Sly Fox in tow, my companion and I first hit the wontons in chili oil. Oh...em...gee. I wanted to drink the oil it was sooooo good. But I figured that might look weird. So the entrees...I ordered the Hot Pot, mostly because it had the highest(?) spice rating on the menu. It wasn't even on the menu, but on the other piece of paper that came with the menu. I was all "ok, um...chicken is always good...well maybe fish...fine, all of it". It was clearly more volume than even I could handle, but I lost all sense of shame long ago. I thought I ordered it "for one", but I got two huge bowls placed in front of me, absolutely covered in the most glorious peppers ever to be seen by man. Ironically, it wasn't spicy at all..."hot", yes, in the sense that you felt a gradually growing flame from within, but not anything that made you want to chug a cold drink. I barely touched my water (though I drank plenty of the beer, but I would do that anyway). The best part was that I had enough leftover to take home and eat for breakfast. Yes, I ate hot pot for breakfast, because I am so epically hardcore even in the wee hours. If I could find a negative, it was with the incredulity on behalf of the staff. Yes, I want the hot pot. Yes, I know its spicy. Yes, I am sure. Yes, I see you pointing at me from the kitchen and laughing. Yes, I see you peeking around the corner as I start eating it. Yes, I know both you and the other server are surprised when you come over and and see that I am done eating and not even remotely in distress. But I understand given the location many people come into the restaurant and (knowingly or not) step on a landmine, so its all good. Han Dynasty offers an experience usually relegated to things not entirely legal, so for that I salute you. I shall return, as "the spicy" exists nowhere else. I don't care if I have to make a day out of it, because I will order an extra meal to take home for the next day. Or maybe two. Whatever.
(5)
Josh L.
I have enjoyed the food at all 3 Han Dynasty locations. The restaurants are all owned by Han and his parents. They offer authentic Chinese as well as an Americanized menu. I go often and while I have had many of their authentic meals, my girlfriend and I usually eat the dumplings in chili oil, dan dan noodles (chinese noodles with minced spicy pork) and 3 cup chicken. The first two are rather spicy and the 3 cup chicken (without bones) is on the sweet side and balances the meal out. Sometimes the service is a little tough, but they do get busy and there is nothing wrong with flagging down any employee there to get you what you need. Monthly they also do a tasting of something like 20 of their entrees. I have not attended yet but I would love to try it.
(5)
David F.
Holy shit! I've never experienced a restaurant quite like this one. It gets better every time we go and the favorite food list continues to grow. This time I had fish in a dry pot (hot, hot, hot) with bamboo shoots and black bean hot sauce. We also tried the beef tendon which was also cooked in the hot black bean sauce (a staple ingredient in most dishes), and both were 5+ stars. But the dish that stole the show for me was the rabbit which was really tasty a quite a new flavor for me. I've had rabbit before but never prepared like at Han with peanuts, black bean, bamboo shoots and other vegetables that really eliminated any grassy flavor that is common in rabbit. Again, I can't stress enough that if you're gonna go to Han's then please do yourself a favor and ask Han what to order and never.... ever order anything from the American menu. It's insulting to the restaurant and what they're trying to achieve with the authentic cuisine. Lastly, I continue to say that Han himself is 90% of what makes his restaurant great. He really cares what you order and he wants you to get the full, authentic Chinese experience. 10 stars if they were available.
(5)
cotie s.
Second time in under two weeks...no problem! Tried two new dishes, Bok Choy with black mushrooms, and deep fried shredded beef. Bok Choy with black mushrooms was a good veggie option, which I recommend to help balance out any of the meaty/spicy dishes you order. Now to the SPICY...deep fried shredded beef. We were even offered to have this dish "normal" or "extra" spicy, we went with normal. I really enjoyed this dish, while the rest of our table found the spicy meter to be above their taste bud's threshold for hotness. Again, Han did not disappoint and I'm left continuing to want more.
(5)
Tracey K.
I am visiting from Las Vegas and wanted good Chinese here in royersford for my family. I went on yelp who recommended this restaurant as the best. I have one word to describe everything we ate...DRY! It was horrible.We had steamed.dumplings which were fair but was given the smallest amount of dipping sauce I have ever seen in my life. The BBQ chicken sticks, not only didn't bare an ioda of sauce actually resembled sticks, dry dry dry . vegetable lo mein and Singapore noodles were tasteless and also dry. We also attempted vegetable and pork fried rice... Do I dare say it again DRY. Eek is right, try somewhere else.
(1)
Statia M.
I've only ever gotten take out from Han, but I have to say, it's one of the best places in the area. The food is definitely not your average crappy takeout. My favorite is the walnut shrimp. Oh man, that stuff just permeates my taste buds, and leaves me salivating for more. I haven't had decent authentic Chinese food since I lived in California, so I'm happy that there's a place right in my very small town backyard. I plan on re-reviewing this place when I finally am able to go there.
(4)
Jillian P.
After visiting Vegas thirty million times I began to learn that you can find a gem in any "strip mall" situation. Han Dynasty is a perfect example. The atmosphere is wonderful, serene and classy. The service was very friendly and helped us order our food. When I say helped I mean gave suggestions on what went well together and informed us when we should probably stop. "That will be enough". Normally that would annoy me, but I learned the error of my ways. He knew. He was right. Others have said it and I'll say it again. Wonton soup...phenomenal. I could eat an entire meal of just that. Kung Pao chicken...delicious Walnut and Honey (that might be wrong) shrimp...yum Three Cup Chicken...I wasn't a fan. But to me personal preference does not dictate quality of food. The flavors may appeal to you (a little salty for me). All in all this place has added to my excitement for living in Royersford. Thank you Han!
(5)
Tom C.
There is a song by Buster Poindexter called "Hot Hot Hot" that kept running through my head as I enthusiastically shoveled mass quantities of nuclear warheads into my mouth last night. What a trip, I kept waiting for a coyote with the voice of Johnny Cash to appear as my spirit guide, but alas no groovy visuals. The thing that stood out most to me was that none of it was hot for the sake of hot. The flavors of every dish stood out despite the little red devils sticking their pitchforks into my tongue and my bodies water works foreman deciding to open up the flood gates and turn the sweat dial to full blast! In fact, I think it was because everything tasted so good in addition to the heat that I committed a slow act of suicide by impending ulcer. Quick run down: Won ton &/or Dumplings in chili sauce were amazing 3 cup Chicken fantastic, although the tiny bones created their own unique minefield Flounder in dry pot was incredible and incredibly spicy! There must have been 5 flounders in the dish and the various mushrooms put this over the top for me.
(5)
Steve M.
Best Chinese food.
(5)
Melch R.
Han Dynasty is great. I was bummed for years over the lack of a proper Szechuan spot in Philadelphia. I'd try a dish here or there in Chinatown on recommendation, but nothing really hit the mark. I spent a nice bit of time traveling through the Sichuan province several years back and was floored by the food there, came back eager. Sadly, I had to make my way to Manhattan or Flushings, Queens for the good stuff. Guess not sadly, my lady lived in Queens. Anyways... I asked my Chinese buddy at work if he knew of any proper spots in or around Philly. He got excited and pointed me to Han Dynasty. I trekked out and understood why - the place is great. I've made my way through most of the super spicy seafood or veg dishes, always chatting with Han himself for tips, off-menu stuff and to make sure no other meat ends up in the order. Like everybody else has mentioned, Han is the man. He always chats, makes goofy jokes and gushes enthusiasm about his menu. He's gotten to know what I like and sets me up good and hot. It's in a stripmall/suburban type of hell, but worth the drive. Pair it up with a couple of beers around the corner at Sly Fox, especially for the stuff on tap you can't really find in town, and tote along a growler for the meal. Not so bad, afterall. Han cracks me up.
(5)
E T.
I love the food but I only eat the authentic fare. The service is not great even for someone that eats or orders takeout frequently. This is at the royersford place. I've also eaten at the Exton location with much better food and service. The Exton site does a better job of explaining and cooking the food (menu is slightly different). I love the spiciness of the food and love the fact that the will adjust not only the spiceness but also the contains....don't like the mushrooms, just tell them to leave them out and they will.
(4)
alison m.
The food here is really great. I ordered the sliced fish with tofu (came in a hot chili oil sauce). Everything was cooked perfectly and the flavors were outstanding. Wish I had a Chinese food restaurant like this near me!
(4)
George M.
Great lunch specials and their service was insanely quick....maybe that's because it was a Tuesday afternoon and only 3 other parties were in there, but they still knocked it out of the park. Courteous wait staff, clean restaurant - I will definitely be back.
(5)
DAVID W.
Zero stars - but that wasn't an option. By and far the WORST dining experience our family has ever had. We walked into what was at least an eighty degree room. There were only two servers and one busser, which left us waiting 15 minutes for a hostess (even with reservations). We were seated in a corner without enough chairs. We waited fifteen minutes to finally flag down a server and ask for a chair and water for the table. We ordered egg rolls, which would not arrive for another 40 minutes after having to remind them three times that we had ordered them. We also ordered wonton soup - which never arrived. We ordered one entree per person, six total. One arrived. Fifteen minutes later another. A half our later two more. Twenty minutes later another. And finally, more than an hour since the first entree arrived... The last one. During this time I questioned the server as to where our food was and he said we could cancel everything or wait. The service was the worst I'd ever seen, the servers (one of whom is part owner) were rude to say the least, and our whole family left hot and angry with the entire evening. When I called the Philadelphia location to speak with the owner regarding the service at Royersford, his response was "What do you expect?! We run shitty Chinese restaurants!". Verbatim - exact words. I was floored. He was pompous, rude and said "If you don't like it, don't come back. I have a theory that Chinese people will never be able to serve Americans the way they expect to be served." Needless to say - we will NEVER go back.
(1)
cheri c.
I'll just echo what everyone else has said! Great food, service, ambience and very affordable! Definitely worth a try! The employees are VERY friend including the man who I assume is the owner/manager. I will definitely be back! Also, I love the fact that they have both an "Americanized Chinese Menu" and an "Authentic Chinese Menu"!
(5)
James S.
Amazing, amazing, amazing Chinese food in Royersford! Who knew you'd find an authentic Chinese restaurant in the shadow of the Limerick nuclear reactor...I went to Han Dynasty on a Saturday night in early March after reading excellent reviews on Yelp. We waited in line for 15 minutes and were genuinely surprised at how *good* everything was. Appetizers: Egg roll and Spring rolls. Totally homemade, as evidenced by the burrito-sized egg roll and 10 minute wait for spring rolls. Entrees: Awesome hunan chicken (mild heat) and flounder in dry pot (noticeable heat). The flounder was a great surprise -- very fresh, lightly breaded, spicy sauce. Hunan chicken was a great accompaniment because it had a slightly sweeter flavor. Portions were large, too, although we ate everything they put in front of us. Dessert: Too full. The meal was so good that 4 days later, we went back for more hunan chicken and shrimp fried rice. Admittedly these were "Americanized" items but they were just as good. In the end (if you couldn't tell), I totally recommend Han Dynasty!
(5)
Sowmya M.
Food not good..servers extreme recklessness and they refilled water after several requests
(1)
Jeni A.
Love the food - if you are coming here for typical Chinese fare go elsewhere, this place shines because of it's authenticity. We've tried lots of dishes and haven't had anything not spot-on. To be clear, if it says it's spicy it's about 10 times hotter than you'd expect so have lots of beer on hand! As noted by others attitude is the problem here - we do take-out to avoid it but once we had $100+ order for a family function and waited 75+ minutes (after being told 30) only to be told that there was no rice available!! I was pretty calm but those that reacted with disbelief were immediately given attitude.
(4)
Jand J.
WOW! We had a wonderful time at this restaurant -- the menu offered "Americanized" and "Authentic" dishes -- took us a long time to narrow down what we wanted (and that's great!) My fiance had fish in dry pot and raved about it (and there was much more than he could eat... and that is saying a lot!) I had stir fry vegetables with home style tofu. This was similar to what I might order from any other Chinese restaurant, except the taste was so sharp and "fresh" -- I knew I was eating very fresh vegetables. Nearly the entire dish came back home with me -- so much more than anyone could possibly eat. I highly recommend this restaurant. We intend to go back often, and both doubt we'll bother with any other local place! Extremely friendly service, also! And BYOB
(4)
Zachary F.
I never dined in so far but the atmosphere is nice. Inconsistent food. Since it's the closest place, I ordered take-out here weekly over the past summer and fall. Been served bamboo shoots that already went bad. Sometimes the rolls are really excellent and fresh, other times they are way overfried. Sometimes, I order a dish I had 5 times before, and they put in 2-3x amount of the hot stuff that was in their before, or skimp on the meat. They need some more quality control in this area. They specialize in hot (spicy) food, although I think it's overdone to simply make it hotter without any mind given to improving the flavor. Otherwise it's fine for that niche and I like hot food personally but many people can't stomach their specialties for that reason. My brother ordered something I consider relatively mild and couldn't finish 1/4 of it because it was too spicy for him - so keep that in mind if you have guests. I would skip it for regular 'Americanized' chinese, they don't seem to want to serve their stated menu half the time either. I called several times wanting to eat something from their website menu (like moo shu pork) only to be told they don't make it. For takeout, the food is always made promptly, with the typical soy/duck sauce (check your bag - sometimes they forget this), and really bland rice which is typical and I can't fault them on that and probably serves to mild the hot foods. Edit 6/30/2012 I went to this place twice several months ago and it was really just nasty one of those times and meh the other. Knocked off a star. I'm open to new cuisine, I think, and I don't order the American stuff, but experimenting here is both expensive and unrewarding imo. From 3 stars to 2.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
John B.
Can't comment on table service as I only ordered take out, but let me tell you this - order off the entrée menu and experience some truly authentic Chinese cuisine. I was blown away by the flavor and delicate sauce of the Kung Pao style chicken which offered enough spice to enhance the dish without overpowering your taste buds. I'm looking forward to going back and trying their other styles.
(5)Clarisse B.
If you are looking for good Chinese food, this is the place you want to go to. It's small and I really liked the way its decorated. The service was a little slow as previous reviewers stated but, not enough to bother my family. Plus everyone was very friendly. We ordered Mongolian Beef, Garlic Sauce Pork and Sweet and Sour Chicken The food we ordered was delicious! Tasted as if it was made fresh to order - which is so unusual for American Chinese food. In fact, all the food I saw delivered to other patrons, looked delicious. My advice to you is don't go to Veekoo or PF Changs or Wegman's chinese buffet... Go to Han Dynasty - you can thank me later. Ps the background music, while we ate, was top hits from Disney animated movies (like the Lion King) kinda funny...
(5)Bob L.
Been there 4 times now. My recommendation, if you are not familiar is, party of two get 2 or three appetizers and split an entrée. The entrees are arranged by style (like hot sauce style, dry pepper style, etc.) then pick a protein that is listed under that style (varies from style to style). Pay attention to the spice rating, they will happily adjust up or down per your order. 6 is a nice moderate heat to try until you know what you like. Dan Dan Noodles are popular and a nice starter. Regarding the service, sometimes hit and miss, and sometimes Han (the owner) takes orders but socializes too long at another table while you are waiting for him to take your order or bring your food. And I was there that night in June when people walked out because lack of service. They were catering a party and were busy filling that order and carrying trays of food out while ignoring the dining room. HORRIBLE! NO EXCUSE! BUT it is a nice change of pace, excellent quality at an excellent price. No, not Happy Panda cheap, but not PF Chang's expensive. AND it is BYOB, no corking fee, you will save a fortune! DO NOT EXPECT typical restaurant service first everybody gets appetizer, then everybody gets entrée. YOU WILL BE DISSAPOINTED AND WILL BE HERE ON YELP RANTING! The food is brought out as it is ready, and is intended to be SHARED family style. You might get an app, then an entrée then another app and another entrée (or two apps, then one entrée followed by another a few minutes later). If you can't deal with this, don't come, it is not how they are set up to work. Enjoy a casual pace, share, talk, discuss the food and flavors, mix and match, and you will be very pleased.
(5)Steve G.
I have mixed feelings about this location. On the one hand, when the food is on here, it's really on. The every-second-Tuesday-of-the-month tastings, for instance, are a fantastic way to spend an evening, and in busy periods like Saturday night, you will generally get great and unique-in-the-area food. The problem is the rest of the time. Frankly, you are taking your chances ordering other days. For instance, today, a Thursday, we ordered from here. I prefer the authentic food, and my wife prefers the Americanized menu and has a lower heat tolerance, so I tend to order milder dishes: today it was the double cooked pork, along with fried rice for her. The food was amazingly bland. The rice was nearly white (clearly almost no soy used) and had a slight smell of lemon Lysol to it. My pork was mostly fat. I did not recognize any of the workers in the place when I picked up, despite going there tens of times. I wonder if there are turnover issues here. If you are going to patronize a place, you want consistency. I feel like Han's Royersford location is one of the most inconsistent places we go. It's a testament to how good the food can be that we keep coming back, but I really wish he could get, and keep, personnel here that know how to execute his menu. On the flip side, if you want to hit this place at a safe time, try the tasting and bring plenty of wine. It's great.
(2)Trish S.
Hey! Think you've had good Chinese food? Well you're wrong, sucka! If you live anywhere near me, you MUST go to Han Dynasty in Royersford. Disclaimer: It will positively RUIN you for other Chinese food forever. Sorry. It will also make you realize that the stuff you've been eating is some sad practical joke that has been going on for decades. (Way to go, Chinese people! You totally got us.) If you don't live near me, you should go to one of the other locations in NYC or the greater Philly area. And if you don't go? Well, then you need to ask yourself why you would possibly want to ruin your life like that? You should stop practicing self sabotage and start practicing self love, or some shit like that. I'm pretty sure that's what Oprah would say. Disclaimer #2: They seem to like to play a mix CD of ballads from Disney princess movies. Perplexing.
(5)George D.
A very good friend loves this place so much that on her visit back to Philadelphia, she diverted our caravan from an expedition to get Indian food to going here. Great choice. The place wasn't packed. Part of that could be that some soul marked this place as closed. No. They were very much open. Many Asians, few other cultural representatives. A friend ordered the Ma Po Tofu. I ordered a pork dish. All of it was fantastic. I will definitely get the tofu dish time. And I'm an unrepentant carnivore. She swears that it's the most authentic she's had since she visited China.
(4)M J.
It does not hold up to the hype. No food is worth the lousy service and long wait. We (4 people) waited for our dinner for over an hour and the waitress never mentioned their was a delay or an issue. When we asked how much longer she then just avoided our table for another 20 min. We finally got up am left and she did not say a word. Two other tables followed us. I like to support local business but not when they treat you this way because they have a zagat rating on the door.
(1)Dan K.
Have been here at least a dozen times and have never had a bad meal. The food is delicious and spicy. This is Sichuan cooking nothing like a typical Americanized Chinese food place. It is BYOB as well. Biggest warning I have to people is that once you have this you will never go back to your dull, greasy run of the mill chinese food again.
(5)Leslie K.
Everything we had was amazing! We dined here for the first time on Tuesday and it was amazing. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. We decided on dan dan noodles, sweet potato cakes, orange chicken, fried rice with shrimp, honey walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, and tea smoked duck. Every dish was delicious and we had leftovers. The smoked duck was especially tasty & tender. Everyone in our party was beyond pleased. Great food, great experience, we'll be back!
(5)Johana M.
We ordered the following: wontons in chili oil, pork belly in garlic sauce, Dan Dan noodles, dry pot (or something like that) beef, plain noodles for the kids, and ginger ice cream. The wontons were my favorite thing though they could've used a little salt or soy sauce (which wasn't readily available at your table). The Dan Dan noodles were good (my first time eating those). They had a particular spice flavor that I can't exactly explain. I'd order them again. The pork belly I was not into because it was cold (it was under the cold appetizers so I knew this - just wasn't into it). The flavor was good...but I guess I prefer hot food. Also it was similar to the flavor of the wontons except with garlic. The hot pot was good. I wish it had more cilantro and maybe some more notes to the flavor. As the meal progressed EVERYTHING was tasting the same. I was in need of some fresh lemon juice or something sweet or tart... The meal was kind of one note. Everything was tasty just one note. SO next time we plan on ordering smarter. We will order the wontons, Dan Dan noodles (these two had distinct different flavors from each other) and something that is sweet AND spicy. Overall it was a good meal and we will for sure be returning. The kids noodles were good for them :) (good flavor) and the ginger ice cream had little pieces of crystallized ginger. It was a good ending to our meal. Oh and the service was good.
(4)Sarah J.
So darn good. I'm addicted. I save this for around my birthday every year or a group date night. When we started dating, my guy and I would go here pretty regularly, and have leftovers for two more meals. I try and coax as many people into coming with as possible. If I went more often, I would need to get a better job to handle my habit. Having tried many things on both sides of the menu, I've only really had one thing that I didn't like. I always ask the waiter what they recommend. Our waiter today was helpful and funny, and right on point. Back in the day we would be served by Han himself. youtube him, he is amazing. I will be making reservations for a group to join the monthly tastings. I understand how service could be tough from time to time. Again, maybe one visit in 6 years have we had a problem. Also great for a Monday option when wanting to dine out; in the restaurant biz that was our day off. I feel like if you are willing to taste new foods, and enjoy your eating experience, try a few things and let them know how hot you can handle and you can't go wrong. Order tons of things, eat it family style. Order the Walnut Honey Shrimp. My boyfriend swears by the dan dan noodles, which scare me, but that's ok. Better then average for sure, delivery would more then likely be profitable, but of course would depreciate the quality. Such a good meal tonight!
(5)Michael P.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Philadelphia area. Firstly there's an actual authentic Chinese menu in addition to a separate menu containing the typical "Americanized" fare. Do yourself a favor and order from the authentic menu. The hot & sour soup is yummy, and the dry pepper chicken is delicious while providing lots of spicy flavor. I'm not familiar with many good options in the Limerick/Royersford area, so whenever my wife and I make a trip to the outlets and need a bite, we'll be sure to top here.
(5)Chris D.
Han is back and the food is better than ever! Chicken Hot dried pepper, Fish in a dry pot, Dan Dan noodles, Quick fried cucumbers - All are mind blowing. Careful because this can become an addiction. Hi my name is Chris and I am addicted to Hans Sichuan cuisine.
(5)Joel D.
The food here is great. They have authentic chinese and Americanized. Everyone I have taken love the food. The reason for the two stars is recently I have had two bad experiences. First service was slow and it seemed like they had heat turned off. We all had to keep jackets on. Second time took about 5 min till they even came to seat us. Got seated and given water and then sat for another 10 minutes at which point we left. If you want good food order take from here. But know what you want their website is down and the response when I asked for takeout menu cause internet was down was that they dont have them...
(2)Nicki A.
If you want AUTHENTIC Chinese food and like to try different things, this is a go-to place for you. Don't go here and order the sesame chicken, not that it won't be good, but there's a reason that and other similar dishes are under the "Americanized" section. The dan-dan noodles are a must every time. It's like an explosion of spicy umami goodness. We also got the squid salt and pepper style, and the pork intestine dry pot. Worth the price. So happy that there is unique food like this around here.
(5)Julie R.
Picked up my order today and was waited on by Han!! What a nice surprise. He was funny and very nice. I'm so excited to have finally met him. And the food was perfect, as always!
(5)Prasanna R.
Me and my wife dined here a couple of times and the food was pretty good. First time we visited for lunch. I ordered the 'Ma Po Tofu' and wife ordered the 'Singapore Rice Noodle'. Both were pretty good. The next time we visited for dinner. I ordered the 'General Tso's Fried Tofu' and wife got the 'Vegetable Lo Mein'. Well the vegetable lo mein was decent, I was very disappointed with the quantity of 'General Tso's'. For $12 it is way too tiny. That is why three stars. I would probably visit here again for lunch, not for dinner.
(3)Greg L.
Stopped in here for dinner per a friends recommendation. It was a Friday evening and the place was pretty empty with only a few other tables filled. Service was friendly and good, although my water glass did sit empty for longer than I would have cared for. The menu consists of American Chinese and authenticate Chinese and we went with the American Chinese We started with the crab wontons, and I liked the fact that there was a decent amount of crab filling in the wontons. My wife and I shared the fried rice with chicken, shrimp, pork. It was a good size portion, but neither of us were overly impressed with the fried rice. It felt like normal rice with some veggies and meats mixed in. My wife went with the pepper steak which she really liked and I went with the sesame chicken, which was also fine. This is probably the first Chinese restaurant I've been to that didn't give you fortune cookies when you got your check. Overall though, a decent restaurant and we will likely be back.
(3)Wallee W.
Update for 2014. Several recent trips in the past 6 months have been very much unsatisfactory. One time we went as a group, the place was like 50*F inside and service was terrible despite our group being the ONLY ones in the restaurant. Another time I got takeout and arrived 5 mins after the promised ready time and had to wait another 20 mins. The final nail in the coffin was today, I had a big group pick out stuff for a large takeout order for lunch. After herding all of those cats, I call at 11:30 (they open at 11:30), no answer. Call again at 11:35, no answer. 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, same deal. I said f*** it and picked another local Chinese place (which was a major hassle because alot of people picked Szechuan items that aren't standard at Americanized Chinese restaurants) and said so long to Han Dynasty for the foreseeable future. Based on other reviews, it seems these are not isolated incidents. If these guys want to stay in business, they need to focus on the stuff going on outside of the kitchen.
(1)Paul C.
Had dinner at Han Dynasty over the weekend. A new redesigned menu made it a bit easier to decide. The spicy dishes are numbered from 1-10, 10 being the spicyest Some new items also. The chinese sausage appetizer with sliced garlic was delicious. The Mrs. had chicken with scallions...very tasty! Number 2 son enjoyed his beef lo mein, and i had #7 spicy pork. Very tasty, and yes, 7 is SPICY! Not just hot, very flavorful. The Americanized dishes are still available. A couple sat next to us and asked for a tofu dish not on the menu...the request was gladly accommodated, and when it came out it was beautiful! I had to ask what it was, and the nice couple offered to share some with us. It was fried tofu with dry hot peppers. WOW...it was amazing! They were very happy, and so were we.
(5)Ben F.
For the hype factor I keep going back hoping things will change. I've tried Royersford and Exton a few times each and I'm done now. The food is bad. The service is horrendous. Its certainly not worth the price. I heard the restaurant underwent management change like 2 years ago. Maybe that is the problem.
(1)Andrew M.
After careful consideration I will revisit this location. I was not aware that the owner sold the name to someone that ran it into the ground. So in all fairness, I will re-visit it with higher hopes. I have eaten at his other locations and found it to be great, so it pained me to give this location such a bad review. I will go back this weekend and hopefully remove my previous yelp entry.
(3)Dave S.
He sold it to someone who ran it into the ground and was giving his good name a trashing, but Han is back in RoFo!!! My first experience was amazing, thanks to Han's guidance, and my most recent was mind-blowing...and SPICY!! Still BYOB.
(5)Diana B.
The service was not good. They forgot my vegetable fried rice and forgot to remove it from the bill. We also waited forever to get service and the Restaurant wasn't even packed. Nonetheless, the food was delicious.
(3)Anne C.
Best authentic Sichuan style Chinese food in the Norristown area. Their spice rivals that of no other Asian restaurant in the area. I recommend looking at the authentic Chinese menu and get the Beef Tendon in Hot Sauce (sounds a bit sketchy but I assure you it is worth every chewy bite), triple delight chicken (ask to have it without the bones, perfect tenderness achieved), and Chicken with Hot Dry Pepper. The food was nothing short of amazing. Wish I was there now...
(4)G S.
Unfortunately, I need to recount all the wonderful things I shared regarding this restaurant over the 2 1/2 preceding years. The quality was truly exceptional with fantastic attention to detail at one point. At this time, I cannot fathom how they have mustered 4-5 4+ star reviews in the past 10 days without paying for them or hiring a new chef and management staff. The employees were rude and on one occasion showed up 45 minutes after they were scheduled to open and told me that it would only take a minute to get the kitchen open. Laughingly, all of my Co-workers now refer to that establishment as HandyNasty as I once jokingly referred to it after a bad experience.
(1)Ron D.
In town for business. Heard the food was good so had to try it out. Food, atmosphere and service was amazing. Don't be afraid to stray from what you usually get from your local place. Waiter suggested some choices off the menu and I can't wait to go back on my next trip out this way.
(5)Karen M.
Not like regular Chinese takeout / Chinese American food. Has some really good dishes. Great date spot and just as good for takeout! My son loves he pork belly and I love the beef cooked hot sauce style. Very different but extremely spicy.
(5)Gerald F.
Dan dan noodle. Salt and pepper shrimp. Spicy cucumber. Bok choy mushrooms. Love spicey food.
(5)Mike S.
My wife and I walked in after several referrals to find a disaster unfolding in front of us. Many people had to leave, there was only one chef and they were running out of ingredients left and right. I mean items like chicken broth, wontons, beef, etc... We asked for a refund, but the order was done, so we thought we would try it. Well if you like only the taste of salt, then this would win the prize. Please, trust me, do not go to this restaurant, they will be out of business in two months.
(1)Kim L.
2 things happened. I was out this way shopping and I stumbled into the shopping center. Always wanted to try the most buzzed about place in Philly ( yelp at least). But I hate driving and parking in the city and other locations are out of the way. As soon as I saw the sign I had to go in. My friend and I weren't disappointed by the Dan Dan noodles. We both are hooked! Everything else was above average Chinese fare . Han dynasty seems to be opening up locations everywhere. How about bucks county! Please, I'm jonesing! Lol!
(4)Tom U.
This is one of the best Chinese restaurants in the entire Philadelphia area. Their authentic cuisine is unique and satisfying while the chefs have the ability to cater to your particular tastes. We love it. Our kids love it. It is a nice place to eat-in or have take-out.
(5)Talia A.
Fantastic! We always order from the authentic menu and it has always been amazing. I would highly recommend it to everyone. After searching for years for a good Chinese restaurant, someone recommended Han Dynasty to us last year and now it is our favorite restaurant.
(5)Bob S.
Did takeout one day from here and was extremely pleased. Looks like it could be a good place to eat in. One of the few BYOB around. Staff seamed very energetic providing a pleasent place to eat.
(4)Johny G.
Average Chinese takeout. Too pricey. And service-without-smile at counter is a no-go. Too many competitors nearby to go back for more abuse. So sorry.
(2)Matt B.
If you want authentic Chinese food, this is the place. They have a few other locations in Manayunk and Philadelphia, however, I've found the Royersford location to have the best food and a more relaxed atmosphere. Service speed varies, but trust me, it's worth the wait!
(5)Dennis L.
Stopped by this little shop in a strip mall for lunch. I know of its high pedigree, being owned by the same owner as the ones in philadelphia. The Lunch special is cheap. I ordered off the authentic menu because I was told a head of time the Americanized dishes weren't that great (and that seems to be the case when I tried other people's orders off that list). I went with the Mapo Tofu w/ pork because that's a favorite of mine. The combo comes with rice, your choice of either hot and sour or egg drop soup, and an entree. The Hotand Sour soup is very flavorful and has a good kick to it. I was sweating from both the heat of the soup, the heat from the spice, and the heat from the restaurant (there's a/c but they need to turn that up for a Schwezwan style restaurant). The Mapo Tofu was a bit spicy and heavy on the chili oil, but the flavor was great. It really wasn't as spicy as I expected and that was ideal. I don't like super spicy stuff, but I hear they turn it down if you come with non asian people. I've had it take out at a friends' (same location) and it was deathly spicy oil, but it was also colder and the oil had congealed. either way, I'm a definite fan, just not of congealed spicey oil stuff. Eat it warm.
(4)Dave H.
Try the cumin lamb[1], it's worth making the trip here[2]. Savory, and very Szechuan. Their cooking is outstanding, authentic to a T. Everything is quite good and, in some cases, packs a decent amount of heat. Picky eaters can order Americanized Chinese; there's a section on the menu labeled as such. Fantastic service. An upscale interior makes you forget you're in a suburban strip mall; comically, Han Dynasty's layout is damn near identical to Sang Kee Wynnewood. Coincidence? Thanks to my friend for suggesting Han Dynasty! [1] Sorry vegetarians. On the bright side, there are many non-meat menu selections. [2] Don't feel like driving? Han Dynasty has a few other locations in the area.
(5)BostonBestEats X.
DOING THE NASTY IN THE 'BURBS Although I work only ~10 minutes drive from this outpost of Handy Nasty, I've never been, despite having visited the Old City location many times and being a complete spice-nick (LOL, I actually find HD not spicy enough, having "grown up" on the legendary Sichuan Gourmet in Billerica MA). Part of it may be that I've heard variable reports about the various non-Old City HD locations, as illustrated by the many 5-stars, but quite a few 1-stars that this location receives on Yelp (and maybe my skepticism regarding the prevalence of Chinese food gourmands in the 'burbs--OK, sue me, I'm an ethnic food snob). Anyway, I decided I was going to take my staff here for a holiday party (a Chinese lady who reports to me insisted we go somewhere besides Iron Hill for a change!). Just to be sure I wasn't taking them to a terrible spot, I went for dinner the evening before to check it out (I'm such a considerate boss!). And I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. HD-Royersford is actually a very attractive restaurant, appealing to me more than the Old City location, although it is located in the Limerick strip mall (just off the exit from 422). When we arrived at ~5:15PM on a weeknight, we were the first customers in the moderately sized (~50 seats) restaurant, which is decorated in an understated Chinese motif. Perhaps giving rise to some of the 1 star reviews and complaints about slow service, there appeared to only 1 server and 1 chef. But the 3 dishes we ordered arrived in quick succession within 5 minutes. By the time we left there were a couple of other tables occupied, but this location doesn't seem to be remotely as busy as the always-packed HD-OC. Interestingly, in contrast to HD-OC, there are "American" and "Traditional Chinese" pages on the menu, which are then divided up by ingredients like most Chinese restaurants, as opposed to the completely traditional menu in Old City that is uniquely divided up by cooking styles. Which concerned me as to authenticity. But, not to worry, the 3 traditional-style dishes we selected were excellent... We enjoyed (with complementary rice): 1) Eggplant in Garlic Sauce $6.50--Just tender enough, not falling apart, perfect. Moderately spicy. 2) Sanbeji (3-cup chicken)--This was on the clearly-not-updated-weekly "weekly top 10" dishes menu. A popular Taiwanese dish featured in a Sichuan restaurant? But at least it was a good version, piping hot, with a thick, somewhat sweet sauce, not as completely reduced as some versions I've so the tender cubed chicken wasn't as well done (some purists may not like it for that reason). As expected, only slightly spicy, so a good choice if you're not a spice-nick. 3) Lamb in Cumin $13.95--One of HD-OC's specialities, I actually preferred this version. I've only had it once at OC, and was mystified as to why it is so popular, but I quite enjoyed it this time around and should maybe give it another chance downtown. Spicy. Lunch the next day with my staff was also enjoyable (although I let them pick most of the dishes and I don't think they did quite as good a job at it, despite 15 minutes of arguing, as we did the previous evening). There is a lunch menu, but we were also able to order off the dinner menu. The Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) I insisted on experimenting with, against my better judgement, were serviceable, but I wouldn't order them again (it's almost impossible to find really good ones in the US--another dish the Taiwanese do better than anyone). However, on the down side, the service was a lot slower, again because there seemed to only be 1 or 2 servers. It took us 30 minutes to start getting our food and it came out slowly, so the lunch lasted 1 1/2 hours (we arrived at 12:30 and 2/3rds of the restaurant was occupied, so reservations were not necessary). All in all, the food was very good (although I still prefer Old City, and Han's quirky personality), but the service is likely to be very slow unless you arrive early, so I'm going to knock them down a star for that. But I'll definitely be back, given how convenient it is to work. BYOB. Easy parking in the lot out front. Oh, and that Chinese lady was quite impressed with the food. Which, if you know any Chinese ex-pats, you will realize is VERY high praise indeed, since they think Americans don't know how to mix Dan Dan noodles for themselves. Sláinte!
(3)Yoshi F.
Who would expect to find authentic Szechuan food in Royersford? Food is awesome and definitely worth the hype.
(5)Don B.
This place has really gone down hill like many other reviewers state. The service was always been an issue, but they have taken it to a whole new level. Combine that with a big drop off in food consistency and quality and I felt the need to also revise my review. One of the last times I was in, I placed a small to go order. The bill was less than 10$ and I only had a credit card and a 100$ bill. I offer him the credit card and he complains that it's not enough for a credit card. Sure, that's a reasonable response to some degree. I then offer him 100$ cash to which he whines at me that I don't have a smaller bill. I tell him to take his pick, but it's all I have. He very reluctantly charges my credit card and I leave without further issue. I thought this story was kind of funny and evident of a business that has no idea what they are doing. On a positive note , they did fix their signage so it now lights up after several months (years?) of not working. Let it be a beacon of light telling you to steer clear.
(1)Lawrence H.
Han is back and the quality shows. Order from the authentic side of the menu! Spicy and tasty.
(5)Chris d.
I hate to write a bad review for this place, as my friends rave about it. But I must disagree with them after my last visit. I will say also that I was disappointed that no one in charge really seemed to care...which is a symptom of growing larger than the owners can properly manage and hence poor products are delivered to the customer because no one in the building cares. I ordered the General Tsau's chicken platter for lunch. The wonton soup starter was bland (which is ok), but the chicken had a fish flavor...you know, when they fry fish in the same fryer as everything else. Ultimately the fryer oil gets a fishy taste and everything tastes a little fishy. Any decent restaurant will cook all fish in a designated fryer. With this in mind, and the fact that I hate the taste of fish, I said something to the waiter at the end of the meal. I also stated that I was not looking for a free meal. Bottom line...whether I was looking for a free meal or not, someone should have come out of the back and asked me about my concern. The waiter stated that it was not possible and his solution was to offer me a can of Coke (even though we had only water with our meals). I don't care if the waiter barely spoke English...whoever was in charge (and it was not the waiter) should have come out and asked me about it. I paid my bill in full and left without anyone saying anything else. Well since no one in that restaurant seems to care, I (and the work group I occasionally dine with) will not be dining there again. Disappointed Customer!
(1)Michael L.
The food is really good and they have authentic cuisine. That's about it for positives. Communication is very poor. I've ordered take out three times from here. Every time they forgot something. The last time, my wife went to pick up the food so she didn't check in the bag. They not only missed an item, but when we had to drive back they were out of it. What? They couldn't call us? Let us know when we came to pick it up? Nope. Not only that, but what made it worse was when we ordered we had to change two things already because "Oh, we out of that" or "sorry, no that". They need: 1.) A better english speaker - to better cover the language barrier 2.) Delivery 3.) Much better service
(2)Jason K.
Unfortunately something very bad happened to this place in the past year. As others have mentioned the food and service are terrible and what used to be my favorite Asian restaurant is now one I avoid. It seems like the Royersford restaurant became the proverbial redheaded stepchild of the chain. What a shame.
(1)Alex M.
More like Handy Nasty. And by that I mean, very very very good. As many have noted, the Dan Dan noodles rock. Even staples like the wonton soup are absolutely wonderful. I can't recommend one dish over another. There aren't many stellar, authentic, reasonably priced restaurants of any kind in Philadelphia, IMHO, and you're talking to a serious foodie here. Handy Nasty is the rare exception. The only reason for my 4 instead of 5 stars is that the menu seldom varies, even across HN's proliferating branches. And where the gifts of the chef and staff are so considerable, there's no excuse for that. Rotate or add to the regular dishes, and feature a weekly or daily special or two--please, Han! Diners, please remember that if you're not a spice person, or feel unsure what to expect heat-wise, dishes can be adjusted to have little or no heat. Also, look for Han himself at this and other locations. His wit is as dry and delicious as the dry rub.
(4)Matt K.
OK, this time I had help from a friend, and holy COW, this food was fantastic! Three hungry gents visited the Royersford Han Dynasty and ordered: duck in beer sauce, "popcorn" chicken (forget the actual name), Kung Pao chicken, whole fish, bok choy and mushrooms, cumin lamb. Spice levels were high but manageable, you could choose to eat as many or as few of the hot peppers in each dish that you wanted. The cuisine is definitely head and shoulders above any other Chinese cuisine that I have ever tasted. All the dishes were done to perfection, but the duck had a few too many bones. Our server was very friendly and helpful too. The decor is rather modern and you do forget that you are in a mall when you step inside. All in all a wonderful experience, and I will be back.
(5)Brian M.
I have become such a regular here, I think the staff are beginning to wonder if I'm stalking them. The food is tremendous. Yes, it's a bit spicy, but you can ask them to tone it down and they will. But if you like a bit of spice, just trust the cooks. I'm not a "super hot" kind of guy, and I've only had one dish that was too much heat for me. Also try the "authentic" side of the menu. That's were the real gems of this place will be found. But even the "Americanized" side of the menu will beat what you get at 99% of Chinese restaurants. I've only had one dish here I didn't like: The Curried Noodles. They detract from an otherwise phenomenal menu. A tad bit more expensive than the normal Chinese joint, but worth every cent! And a BYOB to boot! You have to try it. You'll soon be stalking Han Dynasty too. Tip: Double-cooked fish!!!!!
(5)Jen J.
I am quite amazed by the five star rating up here. I am Chinese and have been to this restaurant no less than 7-8 times. While the food is fairly authentic, the one thing that has always annoyed me was how incredibly salty everything was 50% of the times that I have been here. On these days, all I could taste was salt and the people (I went with different groups) in my groups agreed. I find it distasteful that instead of admitting that the chef may have heavy handed the salt portion (I suspect he or the alternate chef is a smoker), the waitress/hostess always suggests that we have "light" tastes and that the next time we go we need to let them know ahead of time. Um....excuse us for having "irregular" tastebuds but there is nothing wrong with my salt evaluation, especially considering half the times the dishes are fine and not overly salty. I have travelled extensively for work throughout the continental US and have lost count of the Chinese restaurants that I have visited. I KNOW when there is too much salt in the dishes, and this happens very rarely. I find it insulting that a restaurant consistently points out to me that my tastebuds are unusual and that i need to request low sodium upfront. I have never had to do that at any other places and am not about to start.
(3)Jeremy L.
If you are accustomed to the Han Dynasty in Exton, do not go here. I was excited to see that a Han Dynasty was nearby in Royersford. Boy, my excitement flew out the window! The service is subpar, and I thought it was very odd that this place was not very busy on a Friday night. I just thought that people didn't know about this place. I got my food to go and ordered the dan dan noodles, and a sweet and sour chicken. I got home and was more excited than a child on Christmas morning. I started with the dan dan noodles (and I must admit you get a giant container of them), however when I started to eat these noodles they were spicier than anything I have ever experienced before. I just wrote it off that these were just a spice that I wasn't accustomed to. Then I started to eat the sweet and sour chicken, the sauce was on the side, and the chicken was just the typical Americanized version of puffed deep fried tasteless chicken. I spent around $20 and I threw my sweet and sour chicken out. I called my friend that loves Han Dynasty (Exton location) and told him I would bring him the dan dan noodles so he and his wife could enjoy them. I warned him that they are spicy, and he said that he wasn't concerned because he orders them all of the time. After he and his wife tried the noodles, they threw them out agreeing that it tasted like spaghetti mixed with the hottest sauce on earth and over seasoned. I will never return, even if the management would give me a complimentary meal. I am very disappointed, and never thought my first 1 star review would go to Han Dynasty!
(1)Jimmy K.
The best of both worlds! The authentic tastes were new, and of course the familiar Americanized dishes will be ideal for the non adventurous. The service is shotty at best, but the food more than makes up for that department. Will most likely want to go again when I'm carving the spicy Szechuan taste! Warning for those who've never had Szechuan cuisine, beware of the dishes that contain Szechuan peppercorns... It straight up numbs your tongue which can be quite intense for those not used to the sensation.
(4)Atif I.
Which is the odd one out? a) Beef with Broccoli b) General Tso's Chicken c) Sesame chicken d) Szechuan French Fries The answer, obviously, is d. However, not for the apparently obvious reason, but for the fact that this dish, (not on the menu) is the only 'authentic' one of the four listed above. I have a beef, no pun intended, with Americanized Chinese food. I HATE IT! No seriously, I can't stand it. I would think in the last ten years, the cuisine I've had the least is Chinese. It's less to do with the fact that I was raised on Szechuan, Hunan and Hakka, for my subsequent Asian travels acquainted me with Cantonese, Fujian, and Xinjiang. But, it was only in the glorious land of the free that I was acquainted with the 'Blandese' cuisine that insults the good name of Chinese cooking. There's good reason why the food blogs and critics rave about Han Dynasty. The Szechuan dishes are at their fiery best here with no attempt to hold back on the heat that would make you sweat buckets on a sub freezing winter day or cry rivers of tears at Mardi Gras - Han Dynasty truly brings HD into restaurants serving Szechuan cuisine on the East Coast. The dry pot of flounder fillets (melt in the mouth texture!) served in a mini-wok over a blue flame has got to be the best dish I've had in a while. It engulfs you in an intoxicating pleasure pain two-step much like the irresistible allure of the bad boy/girl. You know the attraction will cause you pain and tears, but from the cold dishes of the Chengdu capital to the spitfire hot and pungent dishes from Chongqing you will experience a truly unique range of emotions. It's not all heat, though. You can appreciate layers of flavors (e.g. in the marinated and flash-fried cumin lamb), and textures (e.g. the fried potatoes descriptively named in 'd') not simply the peppercorns, chillies, and hot bean paste. The one thing I personally relate with HD is the absolute and utter contempt the owner, Han has for the mundane dishes popularly deemed as Chinese (e.g. selections 'a' and 'b' in the pattern recognition question at the beginning of the review). In fact, he would be the first to rubbish his own versions of them, listed on the menu under "Americanized". Han is courageously fighting a battle for authenticity, at times one would think at a cost to himself, for friends have mentioned that there might be an element of sabotage, not simply disdain for the garden variety General Tso chicken - dry, rubbery and bland. The fortune cookie at the end, might as well have been presented at the start of the meal for the prediction of "your wish is about to come true" had indeed. Some inconsistency aside, Han offers seriously sensational Szechuan... now repeat that quickly ("seriously sensational Szechuan") to give your tongue another work-out to save it from the "tingly numbing" sensation commonly experienced. Me... I douse all fire with Capogiro gelato.
(5)Ruth H.
Worst han dynasty experience. Wish I had read Andrew M. review before I ate here. Really enjoyed other han dynasty locations. We also ordered kung pao chicken on the authentic menu and it was horrible. This is the parts of the chicken we throw away. We told the manager and after arguing for several minutes, he took it off the bill. Dan dan noodles were ok. Won't be going back to Royersford location ever. Much smaller menu than other locations with no descriptions.
(1)Robert T.
Ate dinner here last Friday. Got there a little ahead of the crowd. Very pleasant ambiance. Had chicken in garlic sauce and my son had Kung Pao chicken. My elderly parents tried noodle dishes, pork and beef but didn't think there was enough meat and were disappointed. Oddly, we only were given water to drink and were not asked if we wanted drinks of any other kind, such as the traditional tea pot. The hostess/waitress was very kind and took time to explain the dishes but service was very, very slow, to the extent that it really brought the dining experience down for us. Parking was generous and the men's room was clean. I think it might be better to order the food in "take out" as a way to experience their food but without the very slow service.
(3)Christopher D.
Grab your water bottle and head to Han Dynasty. I just had a great lunch that included stellar dishes like dumplings in hot oil, dan dan noodles, and twice cooked pork. Service was great and the food paired well with a hoppy beer from Stones. Cannot wait to have more.
(4)Enrique C.
This is a great chinese restaurant. I go to eat there everytime I have a chance (this means everytime my wife wants to go... ha ha ha). The flavours and the taste of the dishes are very good and you can differentiate the ingredients used. The food is szechuan, so if you like spicy food, this is the deal. I can not recommend a dish because I would write the whole menu. The service is very friendly and do not forget to ask for their spicy veggie pickles... they do not usually give it unless you ask for it. For me, this Chinese restaurant is in my Top 3 (the other 2 are in San Francisco).
(5)Chris M.
Real Chinese. Really good, however service has gone down and quality has too. That being said better than anything around here.
(5)Brandon G.
Food is fantastic. Service, not so much. Waitress made fun of my picky eat in wife for ordering "american food". All of us excluding my wife had the Dan Dan noodles, curried beef tendon (served cold) , pork belly, pork fried green beans & fried dumplings. We asked for the dumplings to be fried on both sides and our waitress laughed and said "oh chef won't do that, too many other orders" to which I reminded her we were paying for our food so it had better be the way we asked. other than that everything was fantastic.
(4)cotie s.
Second time in under two weeks...no problem! Tried two new dishes, Bok Choy with black mushrooms, and deep fried shredded beef. Bok Choy with black mushrooms was a good veggie option, which I recommend to help balance out any of the meaty/spicy dishes you order. Now to the SPICY...deep fried shredded beef. We were even offered to have this dish "normal" or "extra" spicy, we went with normal. I really enjoyed this dish, while the rest of our table found the spicy meter to be above their taste bud's threshold for hotness. Again, Han did not disappoint and I'm left continuing to want more.
(5)Cliff J.
Really, in my back yard? Craig Laban (Philly Inquirers master restaurant reviewer) gives Hans three bells (Excellent) out of four. For those that follow Craig, we know the rarity of a three bell restaurant as most of his reviews are one or two bells. So this obviously caught my attention. Hands down, Hans Dynasty is the absolute BOMB for Chinese cuisine. Simply awesome. I ordered take out only, so I cannot comment on the table service. Although, the dining room was completely full and smiles could be seen everywhere. The staff seemed friendly and were attentive while I was waiting for my order to be completed, quickly welcoming new guests as they walked through the door. The decor is modern Chinese and definitely reflects the origin of the menu. Visually, it is a mix of complimentary textures and colors, Large slate tile married with natural woods in warm red tones. The space is small, and fills quickly, but the noise level didn't seem too bad. In the back of the dinning area was a finishing station, mirrored with a large frosted window behind which the primary kitchen. Every so often you see bursts of flame through the frosted glass as dishes are prepared. Way cool. The dining area is very clean, even after a full year in business. So here's what we got witha brief review for each. Sweet and sour cucumbers - Crisp, bright with a nice sweetness and hint of spice. Each diagonally cut wedge was nearly the same size demonstrating real attention to detail and of course, some serious knife skills. Dumplings with chili oil - Savory and salty (not too salty though). These are the best dumplings I have ever tasted. The sesame seeds added a nice texture to the soft dumpling. Dan Dan Noodles - I have to say, this was not a hit for me. The flavor was obvious and the spice well-balanced. The noodles have a licorice overtone. Thats not a criticism, it just doesn't favor my palette. I can see why people like this dish. Chicken with broccoli - Again, this was a huge winner with myself and my girlfriend. Nice sweetness and a really unique flavor. I NEVER order chicken, but I would order this again. Double cooked pork - This was my favorite dish on this visit. The pork was tender and juicy, thinly sliced in a wonderful sauce. It did have a little kick, but like all other "spicy" dishes, it was never overpowering. Pork lo mein - This is my usual favorite noodle. Again, this may sound repetitive, but the best lo mein I've ever had. Tons of flavor, perfectly cooked. Period. In all of our food, the freshness of the ingredients shined through. The flavors were well balanced against the spicy ingredients. In addition, each dish was unique. Nothing had a similar taste or flavor. My girlfriend and I could not stop eating. Even after three plate fulls, mixed with eat menu item, we were ready for more. We settled on saving the rest for lunch the next day. The portions are pretty good for the price. All the food listed cost a total of $54. A great value. Look, this is a must stop. Wether you go to the Philly, Exton or Royersford locations, just go. IF YOUF FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL, PLEASE RATE IT AND SEND ME A COMPLIMENT. ONLY TAKES A SECOND!!!
(4)Percy N.
Han got a new Chef from a well known Sichuan restaurant in NYC. As hard as it is to believe, the food is even better. Hard to put a finger on what is different, but the dishes are just slightly tweaked...in a good way. If you are not in the mood for something spicy (I know, its odd) then try the Crispy rice with chicken. Go check it out !!
(5)Jim H.
This review is as much for the UYE ARSE event as it is for the establishment. Honestly, I'm comfortable with my boring eating habits. Lately however, Ive been forced out of my culinary comfort zone. I often feel like the grumpy guy from "Green Eggs and Ham" (did he have a name? Was it Jim?) I will not eat Tripe and Pig Intestines I will not eat them in a car I will not eat them on a bar. I will not eat them piled high with amazingly hot chile peppers. I came to Han Dynasty with some great people, with the intention of trying some new things and burning my face off at the same time. Han's is in an unassuming strip mall. Its often been said about UYE's, that the quality of the company is so great, that the location is inconsequential. I would usually agree but in this case, Han Dynasty (and more specifically, Han himself) was like the 10th guest and intergal to the fun of the evening. Hans has a very cool and inviting decor and we were set up right in the middle of the action. We had a very funny and entertaining server, who I later found out was the owner, Han, himself. His level of humor and honesty is unmatched. When jokingly asked by one of us, how the General Tso Chicken is, he replied, " Its Shit!" He definitely encouraged us and( by the segmented Authentic/ Americanized menu) others to steer clear of the normal Chinese food staples and try authentic Chinese cuisine. Our group, was full of knowledgeable, worldly people and it enhanced the whole experience. Between the conversation, and the food I was overwhelmed. They made it easy for me to try things and my God! there was alot to try. Steaming plates of spicy goodness, fantastic wine, sweat inducing pallate spankers. Everyone left stuffed. I love how there was a menu insert, which told you the specials, as well as the Top Ten most popular entrees of the month. I could almost hear Casey Kasem reading them off to me. ..... " And now, at #5 dedicating this to his one legged cat, Tea smoked Duck!" It was through this list that I made my choice of entree, Double fried Beef strips (3 chile rating out of 4!) It was awesome and widely considered a good choice. Owwwww! I just injured my arm patting myself on the back. It was just as good the next day, while I sat in my car on my lunch break at work. It was also somehow hotter the next day as I also sat in my car contemplating guzzling antifreeze to offset the heat. As stated earlier, we left Hans, entertained, stuffed and ready for round 2 at a date to be named later.I had been debating going but once again, I was glad that I overcame my initial fears of trying new things. Ill leave you with some observations of the event. - The women who showed up, (including Aaron) were stunning in both appearance and charm. - I haven't had such good wine in ages. Between Caroline's husband's homemade white and the Francis Ford Coppola Red (better than Godfather 3 -not as good as The Outsiders) there couldn't have been a better accompaniment to the meal. - Han was amazing and we were honored to get the VIP treatment from him. He was like the Asian Chris Rock, cracking us up with his "blue" material. My favorite , was his idea of "different" fortune cookies. The only one that is printable was " That wasn't Chicken, you just ate" - Its funny to watch beads of sweat, form on bald guys heads. - I feel truly sorry for those that didn't attend. Dont make the same mistake in the future.
(5)David Z.
worst experience in years. Revisited this restaurant with several colleagues to celebrate Chinese new year. we were all disappointed. Waited over 20min for hot tea and the rice was cold and hard (last night's left over?) Food quality and service, 2 thumbs down! They need to fix this place up fast!
(1)Nick B.
I am definitely a fan of Han. This location is not too far from my house, in a strip mall near Rita's Water Ice in Royersford. The interior is nicely decorated, though a little dim. I swear I've been seated at the same table for the past three times! As far as appetizers go, yes, I'll reiterate what almost everyone else has said: get the Dan Dan noodles! They are delicious and have just the right amount of spiciness. For entrees - I've had the pork lo mein (huge portions, might I add!) Also, the Three Cup Chicken is a very good pick. Not too spicy at all, and just the right amount of savory. Service is generally decent, although the other night they only had one chef on duty (!) and thus, the service suffered greatly. Definitely a 3 star night. But on the whole, Han is generally pretty good, so they deserve at least 4 stars for all of the other good times.
(4)J M.
Went on a Sunday Night with 2 companions. Only about 4 other tables, with 2 people waiting for takeout, It took almost 10 minutes to flag down the solitary waiter to take our drink orders. He scampered away before we could tell him that we were ready to order. We finally ordered soup and entrees after about 20 minutes. soup came 15 minutes later after a reminder, and on and on - the first entree came out over an hour after we ordered, and it took us another 5 minutes to confirm that the other entrees waren't ready yet, so we asked that they be put in carry-out boxes - which STILL took an inordinate amount of time. Hard to blame the server - he hardly stopped to take a breath the whole time we were there, taking orders for takeout, boxing and running the takeout, occasionally taking orders or bringing out whatever the kitchen had been able to make. some of the others there waiting for takeout said that there was usually at least one more server there on Sundays.s I'm not big on demanding compensation for poor service, but I was rather amazed that they charged us the full amount after such a lousy performance. in any case, I didn't want to wait around any longer to complain.
(1)James F.
I hear a lot of people talk about the "spice" and that this establishment "rivals" other restaurants flavors. I have to admit, the food is pretty good however you'd be talking about the hot and spicy Sichuan Pepper Oil, the Chili Oil and, the Cilantro and Lemon Grass, etc. I just sent a message to the business and want to hear back. I want to know what happened to my Sliced Beef and Tripe with Chili Oil. The last three times I ordered it was simply not the same. This, above all was the most incredible, most addictive thing I've ever eaten and they freaking changed it. No longer hot, filled with vinegar at times and who knows what happened to that lemony zing you only get from Sichuan Pepper Oil. I'm pissed. On a better note, things like the Tea Smoked Duck, the "authentic" wontons and such are still pretty good. Everything is fresh, never a problem with that. I am just unbelievably disappointed that the recipes seems to change day to day. The customer service cracks me up sometimes but not in a bad way. The people are totally cool to deal with and they often comment that I only order the really hardcore menu items. I'll update after a while, I haven't given up. Please bring back whoever was making those dishes.
(3)Irene G.
We had out of town guests and decided to go to our favorite Chinese restaurant Han Dynasty in Royersford, Pa. What an embarrassment and complete disaster this turned into. There were nine of us for dinner last Sunday night (3/24/2013). We waited quite a while for a very inexperienced waiter to come to our table. We had to ask several times for a pot of tea while we were deciding what to order. When it was finally delivered no cups were brought with the one pot for nine people. Realizing they were having trouble serving customers, we streamlined our order by having one person order for all of us. Not seeing one of our favorite dishes on the menu that we had ordered many times previously (eggplant with shrimp stuffing) she replied "no comprendo". A 2nd server who appeared very inexperienced just shrugged his shoulders when we asked the same question but he did take our order. After an additional 45 minute wait we demanded that our dinner be served. Two main dishes came out before appetizers, and only bowl out of 5 soups were served. Another long wait to get more main dishes and appetizers, still no soup for 4 of us. We demanded the soup and it came out lukewarm and not very tasty. All the other appetizers and main dishes came out haphazardly and were lukewarm at best. It was just a disaster. The house special fried rice was especially disappointing. It only contained a shred of pork and a few peas, without any flavor. It did not look fried at all. Our favorite dish the tea duck came out as we finished dinner and we told server to take it back as we had enough! What a complete disaster and so embarrassing to us because we bragged how great this place was to our guests. As we left other tables with customers were complaining and even the folks that ordered take out were complaining. The food needs to be served in the correct order, hot, and the service needs to be greatly improved. Han Dynasty was our favorite Chinese restaurant so we'll give it one more try in a few weeks to see if it improves. If not we won't return.
(1)Tracey K.
I am visiting from Las Vegas and wanted good Chinese here in royersford for my family. I went on yelp who recommended this restaurant as the best. I have one word to describe everything we ate...DRY! It was horrible.We had steamed.dumplings which were fair but was given the smallest amount of dipping sauce I have ever seen in my life. The BBQ chicken sticks, not only didn't bare an ioda of sauce actually resembled sticks, dry dry dry . vegetable lo mein and Singapore noodles were tasteless and also dry. We also attempted vegetable and pork fried rice... Do I dare say it again DRY. Eek is right, try somewhere else.
(1)Statia M.
I've only ever gotten take out from Han, but I have to say, it's one of the best places in the area. The food is definitely not your average crappy takeout. My favorite is the walnut shrimp. Oh man, that stuff just permeates my taste buds, and leaves me salivating for more. I haven't had decent authentic Chinese food since I lived in California, so I'm happy that there's a place right in my very small town backyard. I plan on re-reviewing this place when I finally am able to go there.
(4)John Z.
Haven't been here in awhile. Originally liked it because it was so authentic, delicious, and vibrant. My wife and I decided to return last Friday night. Turns out things have changed. It started out with the menus---it looked like they had been tossed in a dumpster and then scavenged to be reused. They were dirty, stained, ripped, and in some places you couldn't read the writing. But what the heck---things like that happen. We were just happy to sit, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the food and ambiance. Until the show started. The wait staff (and I use the term loosely) was unbelievable. The front of the house was staffed by three young guys (all in high school). Nice, pleasant young guys, but so inexperienced it was laughable. As we sat wide-eyed, one waiter ran from one end of the restaurant to the front, while two others yelled to each other across the room. Twice while we sat there, customers who had come in to pick up their takeout orders inspected the bagged items only to come up with incorrect or missing items. Then our spastic trio hemmed and hawed and ran around some more. Really, this was more of a floor show than we expected. It looked like there was no adult supervision. After a reasonable wait, our appetizers arrived. My wife had to flag down one of the guys twice to get some dipping sauce. The appetizers weren't very good, tasting doughy and dry (and lukewarm). Then, about 30 seconds into our appetizers, my entree arrived, but not my wife's, which came 10 minutes later. Both entrees were just average---nothing like the excellent food we remembered. Plus, our waiter never brought us any rice---even after we asked. I could understand all of this if the house was packed with customers, but at 7 PM on a Friday night there were just the two of us and a table of three and a table of six---not quite a packed house. When finally we ended this less than stellar meal, our pleasant waiter came over to our table and handed us the bill---no questions whether we wanted something else or the traditional fortune cookie. My guess is all the fortune cookies probably said, "You will never return to this restaurant again."
(2)Josh C.
We gave this place one last shot because we heard it had returned to its old glory. Well, definitely not so. The food was meh, the tables were dirty (I had to call the waiter back twice to wipe it, then he took the lazy suzan away to clean it and returned it still with some dried food on it). The bathrooms are gross. This place was fantastic up until 3 years ago. It is now smelly and the food and the service are really marginal. So sad- I used to spend about $100/month at this place on lunch. Never again. Someone who knows the owner should really set them straight. And the health department should pay them a visit.
(2)Kunal P.
res ipsa loquitur (in its literal meaning)
(4)Harikrishnan N.
Worst food ever .... N worst service ever...wud hv given 0 star if its possible.... Food quality is so bad... They dont refill the water... Miss many food items.... They'll ruin your evening or best family lunch or whatever it is.....
(1)Abby G.
We have been big vocal fans of this place since it opened. Went last week and it was embarrassingly horrible. Worse than their typical service, greasy food, unidentifiable chicken, place is dirty. Sad
(1)Andy S.
I can say without hyperbole that you won't find anything better than this restaurant anywhere, in any time, in any dimension. Why? Because of the...the flavor. The kind of flavor you crave in your dreams. I've wanted to dine here every since I heard about it some time ago (thank you, Yelp). Never in my life would I think "gosh, I really want some authentic, spicy Chinese food...to Royersford I shall go!", but thanks to Yelp, I did. The lure of "the spicy" was too much to resist. You see, I like spicy food, and I can hardly ever get my fix anywhere. Semi-ironically located right next to Palermo's, and with bottles (and cans) from Sly Fox in tow, my companion and I first hit the wontons in chili oil. Oh...em...gee. I wanted to drink the oil it was sooooo good. But I figured that might look weird. So the entrees...I ordered the Hot Pot, mostly because it had the highest(?) spice rating on the menu. It wasn't even on the menu, but on the other piece of paper that came with the menu. I was all "ok, um...chicken is always good...well maybe fish...fine, all of it". It was clearly more volume than even I could handle, but I lost all sense of shame long ago. I thought I ordered it "for one", but I got two huge bowls placed in front of me, absolutely covered in the most glorious peppers ever to be seen by man. Ironically, it wasn't spicy at all..."hot", yes, in the sense that you felt a gradually growing flame from within, but not anything that made you want to chug a cold drink. I barely touched my water (though I drank plenty of the beer, but I would do that anyway). The best part was that I had enough leftover to take home and eat for breakfast. Yes, I ate hot pot for breakfast, because I am so epically hardcore even in the wee hours. If I could find a negative, it was with the incredulity on behalf of the staff. Yes, I want the hot pot. Yes, I know its spicy. Yes, I am sure. Yes, I see you pointing at me from the kitchen and laughing. Yes, I see you peeking around the corner as I start eating it. Yes, I know both you and the other server are surprised when you come over and and see that I am done eating and not even remotely in distress. But I understand given the location many people come into the restaurant and (knowingly or not) step on a landmine, so its all good. Han Dynasty offers an experience usually relegated to things not entirely legal, so for that I salute you. I shall return, as "the spicy" exists nowhere else. I don't care if I have to make a day out of it, because I will order an extra meal to take home for the next day. Or maybe two. Whatever.
(5)Josh L.
I have enjoyed the food at all 3 Han Dynasty locations. The restaurants are all owned by Han and his parents. They offer authentic Chinese as well as an Americanized menu. I go often and while I have had many of their authentic meals, my girlfriend and I usually eat the dumplings in chili oil, dan dan noodles (chinese noodles with minced spicy pork) and 3 cup chicken. The first two are rather spicy and the 3 cup chicken (without bones) is on the sweet side and balances the meal out. Sometimes the service is a little tough, but they do get busy and there is nothing wrong with flagging down any employee there to get you what you need. Monthly they also do a tasting of something like 20 of their entrees. I have not attended yet but I would love to try it.
(5)Kevin W.
The signage and the strip mall location might leave doubters wondering if they should be going to the grocery store instead, but have faith. Upon opening the menu you'll see egg rolls and general tso's and... oh thank god that's just the page of Americanized grub. If you turn it one more time you get to the good stuff, under the Authentic heading. We had the meat buns, the rabbit and peanuts in chili oil, the lamb in cumin and the twice cooked pork ribs. Everything was excellent, though the lamb in cumin was oddly better at the end of the meal than it was at the beginning. (In the beginning it felt a little bit one-note, but it got better with each bite.) I'm definitely coming back.
(5)Danan R.
The three cup chicken, crystal wontons in chili oil, dry woked beef, and boiled fish in hot sauce were excellent. The boiled fish dish tasted very similar to a dish that I had at Shanghai's South Beauty a few months ago. Nice! I have had better Dan Dan noodles from Mary Chung in Cambridge, but the dish here was decent enough. They specialize in Szechuan dishes so be sure to get those here. I wouldn't come here for Americanized Chinese food or your typical Cantonese cuisine, but their Szechuan entrees are fairly authentic and quite spicy. Definitely recommend.
(4)D.R. S.
I really wanted to give this place good ratings....but with service this poor I just can't. Called to get reservations, and they told me they were full, and hung up. Still, i persisted, due to the high ratings on Yelp. We showed up and were eventually seated. Menu gives no description of the food you are ordering, so I asked help from the waiter (of which there were only 2) and he was no help. Ordered the Pork Belly, inedible, Kung Pao, okay, and the dumplings, good. Had to suffer through the spice with 1 glass of water, only to have the waiter come over when we were ready for the check, and ask for a refill. Want to go back, but maybe not on a Saturday when they are so busy.
(2)David F.
Holy shit! I've never experienced a restaurant quite like this one. It gets better every time we go and the favorite food list continues to grow. This time I had fish in a dry pot (hot, hot, hot) with bamboo shoots and black bean hot sauce. We also tried the beef tendon which was also cooked in the hot black bean sauce (a staple ingredient in most dishes), and both were 5+ stars. But the dish that stole the show for me was the rabbit which was really tasty a quite a new flavor for me. I've had rabbit before but never prepared like at Han with peanuts, black bean, bamboo shoots and other vegetables that really eliminated any grassy flavor that is common in rabbit. Again, I can't stress enough that if you're gonna go to Han's then please do yourself a favor and ask Han what to order and never.... ever order anything from the American menu. It's insulting to the restaurant and what they're trying to achieve with the authentic cuisine. Lastly, I continue to say that Han himself is 90% of what makes his restaurant great. He really cares what you order and he wants you to get the full, authentic Chinese experience. 10 stars if they were available.
(5)Jillian P.
After visiting Vegas thirty million times I began to learn that you can find a gem in any "strip mall" situation. Han Dynasty is a perfect example. The atmosphere is wonderful, serene and classy. The service was very friendly and helped us order our food. When I say helped I mean gave suggestions on what went well together and informed us when we should probably stop. "That will be enough". Normally that would annoy me, but I learned the error of my ways. He knew. He was right. Others have said it and I'll say it again. Wonton soup...phenomenal. I could eat an entire meal of just that. Kung Pao chicken...delicious Walnut and Honey (that might be wrong) shrimp...yum Three Cup Chicken...I wasn't a fan. But to me personal preference does not dictate quality of food. The flavors may appeal to you (a little salty for me). All in all this place has added to my excitement for living in Royersford. Thank you Han!
(5)Tom C.
There is a song by Buster Poindexter called "Hot Hot Hot" that kept running through my head as I enthusiastically shoveled mass quantities of nuclear warheads into my mouth last night. What a trip, I kept waiting for a coyote with the voice of Johnny Cash to appear as my spirit guide, but alas no groovy visuals. The thing that stood out most to me was that none of it was hot for the sake of hot. The flavors of every dish stood out despite the little red devils sticking their pitchforks into my tongue and my bodies water works foreman deciding to open up the flood gates and turn the sweat dial to full blast! In fact, I think it was because everything tasted so good in addition to the heat that I committed a slow act of suicide by impending ulcer. Quick run down: Won ton &/or Dumplings in chili sauce were amazing 3 cup Chicken fantastic, although the tiny bones created their own unique minefield Flounder in dry pot was incredible and incredibly spicy! There must have been 5 flounders in the dish and the various mushrooms put this over the top for me.
(5)Steve M.
Best Chinese food.
(5)Melch R.
Han Dynasty is great. I was bummed for years over the lack of a proper Szechuan spot in Philadelphia. I'd try a dish here or there in Chinatown on recommendation, but nothing really hit the mark. I spent a nice bit of time traveling through the Sichuan province several years back and was floored by the food there, came back eager. Sadly, I had to make my way to Manhattan or Flushings, Queens for the good stuff. Guess not sadly, my lady lived in Queens. Anyways... I asked my Chinese buddy at work if he knew of any proper spots in or around Philly. He got excited and pointed me to Han Dynasty. I trekked out and understood why - the place is great. I've made my way through most of the super spicy seafood or veg dishes, always chatting with Han himself for tips, off-menu stuff and to make sure no other meat ends up in the order. Like everybody else has mentioned, Han is the man. He always chats, makes goofy jokes and gushes enthusiasm about his menu. He's gotten to know what I like and sets me up good and hot. It's in a stripmall/suburban type of hell, but worth the drive. Pair it up with a couple of beers around the corner at Sly Fox, especially for the stuff on tap you can't really find in town, and tote along a growler for the meal. Not so bad, afterall. Han cracks me up.
(5)E T.
I love the food but I only eat the authentic fare. The service is not great even for someone that eats or orders takeout frequently. This is at the royersford place. I've also eaten at the Exton location with much better food and service. The Exton site does a better job of explaining and cooking the food (menu is slightly different). I love the spiciness of the food and love the fact that the will adjust not only the spiceness but also the contains....don't like the mushrooms, just tell them to leave them out and they will.
(4)alison m.
The food here is really great. I ordered the sliced fish with tofu (came in a hot chili oil sauce). Everything was cooked perfectly and the flavors were outstanding. Wish I had a Chinese food restaurant like this near me!
(4)George M.
Great lunch specials and their service was insanely quick....maybe that's because it was a Tuesday afternoon and only 3 other parties were in there, but they still knocked it out of the park. Courteous wait staff, clean restaurant - I will definitely be back.
(5)DAVID W.
Zero stars - but that wasn't an option. By and far the WORST dining experience our family has ever had. We walked into what was at least an eighty degree room. There were only two servers and one busser, which left us waiting 15 minutes for a hostess (even with reservations). We were seated in a corner without enough chairs. We waited fifteen minutes to finally flag down a server and ask for a chair and water for the table. We ordered egg rolls, which would not arrive for another 40 minutes after having to remind them three times that we had ordered them. We also ordered wonton soup - which never arrived. We ordered one entree per person, six total. One arrived. Fifteen minutes later another. A half our later two more. Twenty minutes later another. And finally, more than an hour since the first entree arrived... The last one. During this time I questioned the server as to where our food was and he said we could cancel everything or wait. The service was the worst I'd ever seen, the servers (one of whom is part owner) were rude to say the least, and our whole family left hot and angry with the entire evening. When I called the Philadelphia location to speak with the owner regarding the service at Royersford, his response was "What do you expect?! We run shitty Chinese restaurants!". Verbatim - exact words. I was floored. He was pompous, rude and said "If you don't like it, don't come back. I have a theory that Chinese people will never be able to serve Americans the way they expect to be served." Needless to say - we will NEVER go back.
(1)cheri c.
I'll just echo what everyone else has said! Great food, service, ambience and very affordable! Definitely worth a try! The employees are VERY friend including the man who I assume is the owner/manager. I will definitely be back! Also, I love the fact that they have both an "Americanized Chinese Menu" and an "Authentic Chinese Menu"!
(5)James S.
Amazing, amazing, amazing Chinese food in Royersford! Who knew you'd find an authentic Chinese restaurant in the shadow of the Limerick nuclear reactor...I went to Han Dynasty on a Saturday night in early March after reading excellent reviews on Yelp. We waited in line for 15 minutes and were genuinely surprised at how *good* everything was. Appetizers: Egg roll and Spring rolls. Totally homemade, as evidenced by the burrito-sized egg roll and 10 minute wait for spring rolls. Entrees: Awesome hunan chicken (mild heat) and flounder in dry pot (noticeable heat). The flounder was a great surprise -- very fresh, lightly breaded, spicy sauce. Hunan chicken was a great accompaniment because it had a slightly sweeter flavor. Portions were large, too, although we ate everything they put in front of us. Dessert: Too full. The meal was so good that 4 days later, we went back for more hunan chicken and shrimp fried rice. Admittedly these were "Americanized" items but they were just as good. In the end (if you couldn't tell), I totally recommend Han Dynasty!
(5)Sowmya M.
Food not good..servers extreme recklessness and they refilled water after several requests
(1)Jeni A.
Love the food - if you are coming here for typical Chinese fare go elsewhere, this place shines because of it's authenticity. We've tried lots of dishes and haven't had anything not spot-on. To be clear, if it says it's spicy it's about 10 times hotter than you'd expect so have lots of beer on hand! As noted by others attitude is the problem here - we do take-out to avoid it but once we had $100+ order for a family function and waited 75+ minutes (after being told 30) only to be told that there was no rice available!! I was pretty calm but those that reacted with disbelief were immediately given attitude.
(4)Jand J.
WOW! We had a wonderful time at this restaurant -- the menu offered "Americanized" and "Authentic" dishes -- took us a long time to narrow down what we wanted (and that's great!) My fiance had fish in dry pot and raved about it (and there was much more than he could eat... and that is saying a lot!) I had stir fry vegetables with home style tofu. This was similar to what I might order from any other Chinese restaurant, except the taste was so sharp and "fresh" -- I knew I was eating very fresh vegetables. Nearly the entire dish came back home with me -- so much more than anyone could possibly eat. I highly recommend this restaurant. We intend to go back often, and both doubt we'll bother with any other local place! Extremely friendly service, also! And BYOB
(4)Zachary F.
I never dined in so far but the atmosphere is nice. Inconsistent food. Since it's the closest place, I ordered take-out here weekly over the past summer and fall. Been served bamboo shoots that already went bad. Sometimes the rolls are really excellent and fresh, other times they are way overfried. Sometimes, I order a dish I had 5 times before, and they put in 2-3x amount of the hot stuff that was in their before, or skimp on the meat. They need some more quality control in this area. They specialize in hot (spicy) food, although I think it's overdone to simply make it hotter without any mind given to improving the flavor. Otherwise it's fine for that niche and I like hot food personally but many people can't stomach their specialties for that reason. My brother ordered something I consider relatively mild and couldn't finish 1/4 of it because it was too spicy for him - so keep that in mind if you have guests. I would skip it for regular 'Americanized' chinese, they don't seem to want to serve their stated menu half the time either. I called several times wanting to eat something from their website menu (like moo shu pork) only to be told they don't make it. For takeout, the food is always made promptly, with the typical soy/duck sauce (check your bag - sometimes they forget this), and really bland rice which is typical and I can't fault them on that and probably serves to mild the hot foods. Edit 6/30/2012 I went to this place twice several months ago and it was really just nasty one of those times and meh the other. Knocked off a star. I'm open to new cuisine, I think, and I don't order the American stuff, but experimenting here is both expensive and unrewarding imo. From 3 stars to 2.
(2)Peter N.
Based on the good reviews my family thought we would try this restaurant. We ordered a couple of dinner entrées plus some side items. To be brief we were disappointed. The food was overcooked and much too salty. Although, it appeared one of the items had pink, undercooked chicken pieces. Uhhg. My family didn't like any of the items we ordered. 1 star.
(1)Terry A.
Great dining space. Good service. Authentic Chinese cuisine. Great food. Great selection.
(5)Mike T.
Forget about all the average Chinese restaurants serving Americanized fare on a daily basis. This is the real deal in terms of authentic, flavorful, spicy and delicous Chinese. It might be located in a Strip Mall tucked away in Eastern Pa, but once you have tasted Han Dynasty, you will forget it is in a Strip Mall and remember the flavors long after you leave. As many Yelpers have already stated in their reviews of Han Dynasty, watch the heat level on your choices if you dont like your food too spicy. I wouldnt ask for them to make it spicy (or say "yes" if they ask if you want your selection spicy) if you like your food on the mild-spicy side. If you like it spicy or ask for it that way, they wont disappoint: diced dried chili peppers will be plentiful in quantity. Being someone who loves spicy, I enjoyed the blend of heat level and flavors. Han loves dried chili peppers and so do I! APPETIZERS: Dumplings in Chili Oil (6 per appetizer) are tender and freshly perpared and delicious. Dam Dam Noodles are full of flavor with a great taste of ginger. Braised Beef Noodle Soup was also excellent, a large bowl that would have satisfied 3 people filled with noodles with pieces of beef and very spicy (I asked for it very spicy and it was spicy!). ENTREES: I absolutely love the Fish in a Dry Pot (plenty of pieces of flounder with mushrooms, vegetables, dried chilis in a delicious bean sauce) . Served in it's own metal serving wok with a flame underneath it to keep it sizzling hot when placed in front of you, it is not only impressive in look but loaded with flavors. The flounder is soo fresh and melts in your mouth. Kung Pao Scallops with red/green peppers/onions/peanuts/chili peppers was spicy with a great balance of ginger. The scallops were plentiful, tender and fresh. 3 Cup Chicken with the braised chicken and soy flavors was also excellent. Overall, this is not your average Chinese. Like other Yelpers, it ranks a 5 on the Yelp scale and deserves it. Now when I have a craving for Chinese, the only place that will enter my mind will be Han Dynasty.
(5)Sharon F.
THere is a reason this place averages 5 stars. Hands down the best chinese food I have ever eaten, better than in the chinatowns of S.F. and N.Y. The smell and smokiness when you first walk in can be a bit overwhelming but that is all part of the experience. Made a reservation so of course was seated right away, pleasant and friendly waitstaff. Ordered the tofu/vegetable soup, which was very good as far as this type of soup goes. Vegetables very fresh, soup was clear, liquidy and light, as opposed to starchy and heavy. Healthy and refreshing. I ordered the tofu home style and my partner ordered honey walnut shrimp, both from the authentic chinese side of the menu, which is really what should only be ordered.. not the americanized menu. We shared both generous proportions and both were in a word, delightful. I generally like to chat when I eat but I was so mesmerized by the flavors and spices of the food. I ordered the tofu dish spicy and it didn't disappoint--- seasoned with a pepper mix that I could never replicate. Perfect blend of spices. The honey walnut dish was both savory and sweet. The dished oozed with this glaze that made it look so decadent and it tasted as such. Almost addictive. It's hard to order taken out from down the street now.
(5)Nathan R.
I've only been here once, but I will be back. I had the Dumplings in Chili Oil, the cold Rabbit and Peanut appetizer, and the Spicy Hot Pot. Our waitress actually tried to talk us out of the hot pot because she thought it would be too spicy for a first-timer. Well, it was powerful, but I'm glad I had it. The dumplings are spectacular, with a delicate sweet flavor on top of the chilis. The rabbit was a little bony for me -- I'm not used to rabbit, honestly -- but the dish was delicious. And the hot pot -- wow. Spicy, yes, but such a complicated blend of flavors. It was a mixture of meat, fish, glass noodles, tofu, mushrooms and vegetables in a peppery sauce. The sauce was fiery but not overpowering, with cardamom, almost lavender-like peppercorns, and perfectly cooked fresh fish. I loved it. I had lunch on a Sunday and didn't get to talk to Han, but the young lady who waited on us seemed tickled that we enjoyed what she said was their hottest dish. It was cute.
(5)Sandman D.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Philly burbs serving authentic Sichuan cuisine. They serve both the Americanized Chinese menu and authentic Chinese menu. If you are up for some spice and different taste profile, I strongly recommend skipping the Americanized Chinese and going for the authentic Chinese menu.
(4)Tim F.
For authentic Chinese food, it does not get any better than this. It is without question the best Chinese cuisine I've had in the US. The owner, Han, is quite an interesting and entertaining guy. If he is there when you arrive, ask him for dish suggestions. it makes the whole experience unique and fun.
(5)Joni J.
Fabulous food and I've never had poor service. I usually go for lunch so I can't tell you what the dinner service is like.
(5)Sabrina D.
Wow, I'm absolutely amazed at all the rave reviews on this place. I had the most awful experience at this place and will never ever be back. First off we waited almost 20 minutes before anyone ever came to our table, we never even got acknowledged during this time. We did notice however that other people who came in well after us were already being served drinks and their orders were being taken. When we finally did get someone to our table and we never even got asked if we would like a drink...well being starving i wasn't about to leave at this point so I ordered reluctantly. They had a seperate menu of their top ordered items so I ordered this spicy chicken with hot peppers. This was the most disgusting dish, it looked good but was so dry and the chicken was chewy and way too spicy for my taste. I took one bite and had no desire to eat any more of it. The others in my party seemed to enjoy what they ordered, so I guess I just made a wrong decision. Hey it happens, and you know I wouldn't even be on here writing a bad review if I had felt we at least got treated like human beings there. I seriously felt like we were invisible the whole time, no one ever came to our table during the whole meal and at the end when our dishes were being picked up, I told the waiter the dish was too spicy for me and he just shrugged at me and walked off. No offer to get me something else, no offer to take some of it off my bill, nothing, I also noticed that everyone else in the restaurant who was of another ethnic background (not white) was offered chopsticks and also seemed to get great service, I seriously felt discriminated against and my party agreed that we seemed to be getting the short end of the chopstick at that place. I have no doubt that some of their other dishes are great, but being treated badly is enough to turn me off, I don't care how great their food might be, being treated like that is never acceptable and I also think their food is way overpriced. In my opinion, great service makes or breaks your experience and unfortunately my experience here is broken beyond repair.
(1)Raj A.
Amazing Chinese restaurant in the area. Set apart from the other Chinese restaurants by it's "Authentic" cuisine, though the food is a bit on the greasy side. If you want to try something different, make sure you choose from the "Authentic Menu". "American Menu" also available that include the standard items like Kungpao Chicken, Hot and Sour Chicken etc. Must try "Chicken with Hot/Dry Peppers", "Boiled Fish in Hot Sauce", "Diced Chicken in Garlic Sauce". Most of the items are available with vegetables, Chicken, Fish, Post and Beef.
(5)RB B.
I have to start off by saying that this place must either be owned by Sang Kee Bistro ( which I really don't think it is,) or they used the same architect/designer. Walking into this place was like walking into Sang Kee Bistro, only smaller. Same exact layout, same surface materials, same everything, even down to the bar with the little tv screens built in. Not a bad thing as it is very warm and pleasant. Menu is pretty extensive. They have 2 sections - Americanized and Authentic. We ordered from the Americanized, but I'm looking forward to going back and being more adventurous because the entire menu looks and sounds great. Egg drop and hot and sour soups were pretty typical. Egg roll came out perfectly hot and crispy, as it should be. We had lo mein and eggplant and tofu in garlic sauce. Both were delicious. Prices are reasonable and portions pretty large, which makes for a good value. The place gets pretty crowded on a Saturday night. We had a resie and still waited about 25 minutes. Usually I'd be annoyed by that, but for some reason it was ok.
(4)Anthony Y.
I had high expectations for this chinese restuarnt being all th\at i've heard and i must say that i was thoroughly impressed. The food was delicious. Me and my daughter ordered the Flounder dry hot pot and the pork rib noodle stew. The food was excellent and authentic in taste and variety. The majority of the offerings are Authentic which i highly recommend...although they do serve americanized dishes which can be orderd at any typical chinese American restaurant. Han Dynasty is here to stay!
(4)yan c.
terrible service, i order scallion pancake, it come out with tons oil on it, ask wait for more napkin, he come over and give me 4 piece tiny napkin, use most of to absorb the oil from the pancakes. half way through. the meal, went out of napkin, and ask him for more napkin, take him at least another. 10 min to bring you napkin. during. that 10 min, he pass our table. countless time while bring menu and stop by to order for the table next to us, and stop by to wipe the table while 80% of the restaurant is empty. he just give you feeling that he doesn't want to give you more napkin. i been to tons of chinese restaurant, including chinatown, they are not known for their service. but this one is terrible.
(2)Local Guest D.
UNFORTUNATE FOR US SINCE THE FOOD IS GOOD ... but A group of friends and I attended the "Tasting event" recently in Royersford. The Owner, Han was so so very very rude to our party that several guests in our party got up and left - because Han was so nasty about specific dietary (vegetarian) request that the guest had. Han in short said that the people in Royersford are "ignorant and dont have class like the people in Center City". Then he proceeded to tell our group - loud enough that the entire restaurant heard him - that he "isnt making any money on the tastings and that he should cancel them for this location for the future because the people out this way cant appreciate it". When an owner of a restaurant thinks he's above his customers - something is wrong!!! Maybe it was the 3 beers that he had drunk by the time the food was even served but regardless - not very professional nor welcoming. Have gone to this restaurant almost weekly and spent LOTS of MONEY over the last year - but definately will reconsider for the future. Unfortunately for us - the food is good. Although the tasting event presentation and amounts weren't as good nor as comparable to the last events we've attended and but maybe we were being "punished". I have found the food overall to be not as good in the several weeks. As a restaurant critic - the food is good - but not worth the personal attack. Han - go ahead and stay in Philly!!
(2)Julian S.
Let's put a new review in here just to set shit straight. Han Dynasty is amazing. I've never had anything there that fell short of excellent. If you want an awesome experience and are willing to take a risk, do what I do. 1. Go to Han Dynasty. 2. Decide on an appetizer (the beef and tripe in chili is incredible) or 2 and some soup (the wonton is baller). 3. Pick a meat, and then just ask them to surprise you with the dish. 4. Enjoy the fudge out of your food. 5. Order the insane ice cream trifecta. 6. Enjoy said trifecta. 7. Pay them. 8. Go home happy. I've done this every single time I've gone there. I always end up with something different and exciting.
(5)Komal D.
Follow the waiters recommendations! I can't handle spicy, but if you go to low on the spiciness scale, then your food will have no flavor. This isn't typical Chinese food in America, it's a different type of cuisine. So don't expect some general tsos. This was a vegetarian foodie night, with a spice level of 4, and it was good! The waiter started us with waters and hot tea. Spicy cucumber: basically sliced cucumbers in a spicy sauce. Really good, light appetizer Dan Dan Noodles: spicy, but it has to be because that's where the flavor is and it's really good! Garlic sauce tofu: soft tofu with peppers and mushrooms in a sauce. Good with some white rice Cumin tofu: AMAZING! fried tofu covered in cumin. It was delicious. I could eat just that. Service was pretty good, but nothing to complain about. Food was definitely spicy, but it has to be for flavor. I don't know why they have an "Americanized" menu.. The regular food is delicious as is.
(4)Chaye V.
I have gone to Han dynasty many times and the only thing i go for is the Dan dan noodles. Its simply flavorful with just the right amount of seasoning. Out of all the chinese cuisine I would have to say sezchun hands down is my favoritest region of chinese cuisine. The only complaint I would have for them is to not use MsG because I think it ruins the dish. Still this a solid place for sezchun food.
(4)Peter N.
Based on the good reviews my family thought we would try this restaurant. We ordered a couple of dinner entrées plus some side items. To be brief we were disappointed. The food was overcooked and much too salty. Although, it appeared one of the items had pink, undercooked chicken pieces. Uhhg. My family didn't like any of the items we ordered. 1 star.
(1)Terry A.
Great dining space. Good service. Authentic Chinese cuisine. Great food. Great selection.
(5)Mike T.
Forget about all the average Chinese restaurants serving Americanized fare on a daily basis. This is the real deal in terms of authentic, flavorful, spicy and delicous Chinese. It might be located in a Strip Mall tucked away in Eastern Pa, but once you have tasted Han Dynasty, you will forget it is in a Strip Mall and remember the flavors long after you leave. As many Yelpers have already stated in their reviews of Han Dynasty, watch the heat level on your choices if you dont like your food too spicy. I wouldnt ask for them to make it spicy (or say "yes" if they ask if you want your selection spicy) if you like your food on the mild-spicy side. If you like it spicy or ask for it that way, they wont disappoint: diced dried chili peppers will be plentiful in quantity. Being someone who loves spicy, I enjoyed the blend of heat level and flavors. Han loves dried chili peppers and so do I! APPETIZERS: Dumplings in Chili Oil (6 per appetizer) are tender and freshly perpared and delicious. Dam Dam Noodles are full of flavor with a great taste of ginger. Braised Beef Noodle Soup was also excellent, a large bowl that would have satisfied 3 people filled with noodles with pieces of beef and very spicy (I asked for it very spicy and it was spicy!). ENTREES: I absolutely love the Fish in a Dry Pot (plenty of pieces of flounder with mushrooms, vegetables, dried chilis in a delicious bean sauce) . Served in it's own metal serving wok with a flame underneath it to keep it sizzling hot when placed in front of you, it is not only impressive in look but loaded with flavors. The flounder is soo fresh and melts in your mouth. Kung Pao Scallops with red/green peppers/onions/peanuts/chili peppers was spicy with a great balance of ginger. The scallops were plentiful, tender and fresh. 3 Cup Chicken with the braised chicken and soy flavors was also excellent. Overall, this is not your average Chinese. Like other Yelpers, it ranks a 5 on the Yelp scale and deserves it. Now when I have a craving for Chinese, the only place that will enter my mind will be Han Dynasty.
(5)Sharon F.
THere is a reason this place averages 5 stars. Hands down the best chinese food I have ever eaten, better than in the chinatowns of S.F. and N.Y. The smell and smokiness when you first walk in can be a bit overwhelming but that is all part of the experience. Made a reservation so of course was seated right away, pleasant and friendly waitstaff. Ordered the tofu/vegetable soup, which was very good as far as this type of soup goes. Vegetables very fresh, soup was clear, liquidy and light, as opposed to starchy and heavy. Healthy and refreshing. I ordered the tofu home style and my partner ordered honey walnut shrimp, both from the authentic chinese side of the menu, which is really what should only be ordered.. not the americanized menu. We shared both generous proportions and both were in a word, delightful. I generally like to chat when I eat but I was so mesmerized by the flavors and spices of the food. I ordered the tofu dish spicy and it didn't disappoint--- seasoned with a pepper mix that I could never replicate. Perfect blend of spices. The honey walnut dish was both savory and sweet. The dished oozed with this glaze that made it look so decadent and it tasted as such. Almost addictive. It's hard to order taken out from down the street now.
(5)Nathan R.
I've only been here once, but I will be back. I had the Dumplings in Chili Oil, the cold Rabbit and Peanut appetizer, and the Spicy Hot Pot. Our waitress actually tried to talk us out of the hot pot because she thought it would be too spicy for a first-timer. Well, it was powerful, but I'm glad I had it. The dumplings are spectacular, with a delicate sweet flavor on top of the chilis. The rabbit was a little bony for me -- I'm not used to rabbit, honestly -- but the dish was delicious. And the hot pot -- wow. Spicy, yes, but such a complicated blend of flavors. It was a mixture of meat, fish, glass noodles, tofu, mushrooms and vegetables in a peppery sauce. The sauce was fiery but not overpowering, with cardamom, almost lavender-like peppercorns, and perfectly cooked fresh fish. I loved it. I had lunch on a Sunday and didn't get to talk to Han, but the young lady who waited on us seemed tickled that we enjoyed what she said was their hottest dish. It was cute.
(5)Sandman D.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Philly burbs serving authentic Sichuan cuisine. They serve both the Americanized Chinese menu and authentic Chinese menu. If you are up for some spice and different taste profile, I strongly recommend skipping the Americanized Chinese and going for the authentic Chinese menu.
(4)Tim F.
For authentic Chinese food, it does not get any better than this. It is without question the best Chinese cuisine I've had in the US. The owner, Han, is quite an interesting and entertaining guy. If he is there when you arrive, ask him for dish suggestions. it makes the whole experience unique and fun.
(5)Joni J.
Fabulous food and I've never had poor service. I usually go for lunch so I can't tell you what the dinner service is like.
(5)Sabrina D.
Wow, I'm absolutely amazed at all the rave reviews on this place. I had the most awful experience at this place and will never ever be back. First off we waited almost 20 minutes before anyone ever came to our table, we never even got acknowledged during this time. We did notice however that other people who came in well after us were already being served drinks and their orders were being taken. When we finally did get someone to our table and we never even got asked if we would like a drink...well being starving i wasn't about to leave at this point so I ordered reluctantly. They had a seperate menu of their top ordered items so I ordered this spicy chicken with hot peppers. This was the most disgusting dish, it looked good but was so dry and the chicken was chewy and way too spicy for my taste. I took one bite and had no desire to eat any more of it. The others in my party seemed to enjoy what they ordered, so I guess I just made a wrong decision. Hey it happens, and you know I wouldn't even be on here writing a bad review if I had felt we at least got treated like human beings there. I seriously felt like we were invisible the whole time, no one ever came to our table during the whole meal and at the end when our dishes were being picked up, I told the waiter the dish was too spicy for me and he just shrugged at me and walked off. No offer to get me something else, no offer to take some of it off my bill, nothing, I also noticed that everyone else in the restaurant who was of another ethnic background (not white) was offered chopsticks and also seemed to get great service, I seriously felt discriminated against and my party agreed that we seemed to be getting the short end of the chopstick at that place. I have no doubt that some of their other dishes are great, but being treated badly is enough to turn me off, I don't care how great their food might be, being treated like that is never acceptable and I also think their food is way overpriced. In my opinion, great service makes or breaks your experience and unfortunately my experience here is broken beyond repair.
(1)Raj A.
Amazing Chinese restaurant in the area. Set apart from the other Chinese restaurants by it's "Authentic" cuisine, though the food is a bit on the greasy side. If you want to try something different, make sure you choose from the "Authentic Menu". "American Menu" also available that include the standard items like Kungpao Chicken, Hot and Sour Chicken etc. Must try "Chicken with Hot/Dry Peppers", "Boiled Fish in Hot Sauce", "Diced Chicken in Garlic Sauce". Most of the items are available with vegetables, Chicken, Fish, Post and Beef.
(5)RB B.
I have to start off by saying that this place must either be owned by Sang Kee Bistro ( which I really don't think it is,) or they used the same architect/designer. Walking into this place was like walking into Sang Kee Bistro, only smaller. Same exact layout, same surface materials, same everything, even down to the bar with the little tv screens built in. Not a bad thing as it is very warm and pleasant. Menu is pretty extensive. They have 2 sections - Americanized and Authentic. We ordered from the Americanized, but I'm looking forward to going back and being more adventurous because the entire menu looks and sounds great. Egg drop and hot and sour soups were pretty typical. Egg roll came out perfectly hot and crispy, as it should be. We had lo mein and eggplant and tofu in garlic sauce. Both were delicious. Prices are reasonable and portions pretty large, which makes for a good value. The place gets pretty crowded on a Saturday night. We had a resie and still waited about 25 minutes. Usually I'd be annoyed by that, but for some reason it was ok.
(4)Anthony Y.
I had high expectations for this chinese restuarnt being all th\at i've heard and i must say that i was thoroughly impressed. The food was delicious. Me and my daughter ordered the Flounder dry hot pot and the pork rib noodle stew. The food was excellent and authentic in taste and variety. The majority of the offerings are Authentic which i highly recommend...although they do serve americanized dishes which can be orderd at any typical chinese American restaurant. Han Dynasty is here to stay!
(4)yan c.
terrible service, i order scallion pancake, it come out with tons oil on it, ask wait for more napkin, he come over and give me 4 piece tiny napkin, use most of to absorb the oil from the pancakes. half way through. the meal, went out of napkin, and ask him for more napkin, take him at least another. 10 min to bring you napkin. during. that 10 min, he pass our table. countless time while bring menu and stop by to order for the table next to us, and stop by to wipe the table while 80% of the restaurant is empty. he just give you feeling that he doesn't want to give you more napkin. i been to tons of chinese restaurant, including chinatown, they are not known for their service. but this one is terrible.
(2)Local Guest D.
UNFORTUNATE FOR US SINCE THE FOOD IS GOOD ... but A group of friends and I attended the "Tasting event" recently in Royersford. The Owner, Han was so so very very rude to our party that several guests in our party got up and left - because Han was so nasty about specific dietary (vegetarian) request that the guest had. Han in short said that the people in Royersford are "ignorant and dont have class like the people in Center City". Then he proceeded to tell our group - loud enough that the entire restaurant heard him - that he "isnt making any money on the tastings and that he should cancel them for this location for the future because the people out this way cant appreciate it". When an owner of a restaurant thinks he's above his customers - something is wrong!!! Maybe it was the 3 beers that he had drunk by the time the food was even served but regardless - not very professional nor welcoming. Have gone to this restaurant almost weekly and spent LOTS of MONEY over the last year - but definately will reconsider for the future. Unfortunately for us - the food is good. Although the tasting event presentation and amounts weren't as good nor as comparable to the last events we've attended and but maybe we were being "punished". I have found the food overall to be not as good in the several weeks. As a restaurant critic - the food is good - but not worth the personal attack. Han - go ahead and stay in Philly!!
(2)Julian S.
Let's put a new review in here just to set shit straight. Han Dynasty is amazing. I've never had anything there that fell short of excellent. If you want an awesome experience and are willing to take a risk, do what I do. 1. Go to Han Dynasty. 2. Decide on an appetizer (the beef and tripe in chili is incredible) or 2 and some soup (the wonton is baller). 3. Pick a meat, and then just ask them to surprise you with the dish. 4. Enjoy the fudge out of your food. 5. Order the insane ice cream trifecta. 6. Enjoy said trifecta. 7. Pay them. 8. Go home happy. I've done this every single time I've gone there. I always end up with something different and exciting.
(5)Komal D.
Follow the waiters recommendations! I can't handle spicy, but if you go to low on the spiciness scale, then your food will have no flavor. This isn't typical Chinese food in America, it's a different type of cuisine. So don't expect some general tsos. This was a vegetarian foodie night, with a spice level of 4, and it was good! The waiter started us with waters and hot tea. Spicy cucumber: basically sliced cucumbers in a spicy sauce. Really good, light appetizer Dan Dan Noodles: spicy, but it has to be because that's where the flavor is and it's really good! Garlic sauce tofu: soft tofu with peppers and mushrooms in a sauce. Good with some white rice Cumin tofu: AMAZING! fried tofu covered in cumin. It was delicious. I could eat just that. Service was pretty good, but nothing to complain about. Food was definitely spicy, but it has to be for flavor. I don't know why they have an "Americanized" menu.. The regular food is delicious as is.
(4)Chaye V.
I have gone to Han dynasty many times and the only thing i go for is the Dan dan noodles. Its simply flavorful with just the right amount of seasoning. Out of all the chinese cuisine I would have to say sezchun hands down is my favoritest region of chinese cuisine. The only complaint I would have for them is to not use MsG because I think it ruins the dish. Still this a solid place for sezchun food.
(4)John B.
Can't comment on table service as I only ordered take out, but let me tell you this - order off the entrée menu and experience some truly authentic Chinese cuisine. I was blown away by the flavor and delicate sauce of the Kung Pao style chicken which offered enough spice to enhance the dish without overpowering your taste buds. I'm looking forward to going back and trying their other styles.
(5)Clarisse B.
If you are looking for good Chinese food, this is the place you want to go to. It's small and I really liked the way its decorated. The service was a little slow as previous reviewers stated but, not enough to bother my family. Plus everyone was very friendly. We ordered Mongolian Beef, Garlic Sauce Pork and Sweet and Sour Chicken The food we ordered was delicious! Tasted as if it was made fresh to order - which is so unusual for American Chinese food. In fact, all the food I saw delivered to other patrons, looked delicious. My advice to you is don't go to Veekoo or PF Changs or Wegman's chinese buffet... Go to Han Dynasty - you can thank me later. Ps the background music, while we ate, was top hits from Disney animated movies (like the Lion King) kinda funny...
(5)Chris D.
Han is back and the food is better than ever! Chicken Hot dried pepper, Fish in a dry pot, Dan Dan noodles, Quick fried cucumbers - All are mind blowing. Careful because this can become an addiction. Hi my name is Chris and I am addicted to Hans Sichuan cuisine.
(5)Bob L.
Been there 4 times now. My recommendation, if you are not familiar is, party of two get 2 or three appetizers and split an entrée. The entrees are arranged by style (like hot sauce style, dry pepper style, etc.) then pick a protein that is listed under that style (varies from style to style). Pay attention to the spice rating, they will happily adjust up or down per your order. 6 is a nice moderate heat to try until you know what you like. Dan Dan Noodles are popular and a nice starter. Regarding the service, sometimes hit and miss, and sometimes Han (the owner) takes orders but socializes too long at another table while you are waiting for him to take your order or bring your food. And I was there that night in June when people walked out because lack of service. They were catering a party and were busy filling that order and carrying trays of food out while ignoring the dining room. HORRIBLE! NO EXCUSE! BUT it is a nice change of pace, excellent quality at an excellent price. No, not Happy Panda cheap, but not PF Chang's expensive. AND it is BYOB, no corking fee, you will save a fortune! DO NOT EXPECT typical restaurant service first everybody gets appetizer, then everybody gets entrée. YOU WILL BE DISSAPOINTED AND WILL BE HERE ON YELP RANTING! The food is brought out as it is ready, and is intended to be SHARED family style. You might get an app, then an entrée then another app and another entrée (or two apps, then one entrée followed by another a few minutes later). If you can't deal with this, don't come, it is not how they are set up to work. Enjoy a casual pace, share, talk, discuss the food and flavors, mix and match, and you will be very pleased.
(5)Steve G.
I have mixed feelings about this location. On the one hand, when the food is on here, it's really on. The every-second-Tuesday-of-the-month tastings, for instance, are a fantastic way to spend an evening, and in busy periods like Saturday night, you will generally get great and unique-in-the-area food. The problem is the rest of the time. Frankly, you are taking your chances ordering other days. For instance, today, a Thursday, we ordered from here. I prefer the authentic food, and my wife prefers the Americanized menu and has a lower heat tolerance, so I tend to order milder dishes: today it was the double cooked pork, along with fried rice for her. The food was amazingly bland. The rice was nearly white (clearly almost no soy used) and had a slight smell of lemon Lysol to it. My pork was mostly fat. I did not recognize any of the workers in the place when I picked up, despite going there tens of times. I wonder if there are turnover issues here. If you are going to patronize a place, you want consistency. I feel like Han's Royersford location is one of the most inconsistent places we go. It's a testament to how good the food can be that we keep coming back, but I really wish he could get, and keep, personnel here that know how to execute his menu. On the flip side, if you want to hit this place at a safe time, try the tasting and bring plenty of wine. It's great.
(2)Trish S.
Hey! Think you've had good Chinese food? Well you're wrong, sucka! If you live anywhere near me, you MUST go to Han Dynasty in Royersford. Disclaimer: It will positively RUIN you for other Chinese food forever. Sorry. It will also make you realize that the stuff you've been eating is some sad practical joke that has been going on for decades. (Way to go, Chinese people! You totally got us.) If you don't live near me, you should go to one of the other locations in NYC or the greater Philly area. And if you don't go? Well, then you need to ask yourself why you would possibly want to ruin your life like that? You should stop practicing self sabotage and start practicing self love, or some shit like that. I'm pretty sure that's what Oprah would say. Disclaimer #2: They seem to like to play a mix CD of ballads from Disney princess movies. Perplexing.
(5)George D.
A very good friend loves this place so much that on her visit back to Philadelphia, she diverted our caravan from an expedition to get Indian food to going here. Great choice. The place wasn't packed. Part of that could be that some soul marked this place as closed. No. They were very much open. Many Asians, few other cultural representatives. A friend ordered the Ma Po Tofu. I ordered a pork dish. All of it was fantastic. I will definitely get the tofu dish time. And I'm an unrepentant carnivore. She swears that it's the most authentic she's had since she visited China.
(4)M J.
It does not hold up to the hype. No food is worth the lousy service and long wait. We (4 people) waited for our dinner for over an hour and the waitress never mentioned their was a delay or an issue. When we asked how much longer she then just avoided our table for another 20 min. We finally got up am left and she did not say a word. Two other tables followed us. I like to support local business but not when they treat you this way because they have a zagat rating on the door.
(1)Dan K.
Have been here at least a dozen times and have never had a bad meal. The food is delicious and spicy. This is Sichuan cooking nothing like a typical Americanized Chinese food place. It is BYOB as well. Biggest warning I have to people is that once you have this you will never go back to your dull, greasy run of the mill chinese food again.
(5)Leslie K.
Everything we had was amazing! We dined here for the first time on Tuesday and it was amazing. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. We decided on dan dan noodles, sweet potato cakes, orange chicken, fried rice with shrimp, honey walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, and tea smoked duck. Every dish was delicious and we had leftovers. The smoked duck was especially tasty & tender. Everyone in our party was beyond pleased. Great food, great experience, we'll be back!
(5)Johana M.
We ordered the following: wontons in chili oil, pork belly in garlic sauce, Dan Dan noodles, dry pot (or something like that) beef, plain noodles for the kids, and ginger ice cream. The wontons were my favorite thing though they could've used a little salt or soy sauce (which wasn't readily available at your table). The Dan Dan noodles were good (my first time eating those). They had a particular spice flavor that I can't exactly explain. I'd order them again. The pork belly I was not into because it was cold (it was under the cold appetizers so I knew this - just wasn't into it). The flavor was good...but I guess I prefer hot food. Also it was similar to the flavor of the wontons except with garlic. The hot pot was good. I wish it had more cilantro and maybe some more notes to the flavor. As the meal progressed EVERYTHING was tasting the same. I was in need of some fresh lemon juice or something sweet or tart... The meal was kind of one note. Everything was tasty just one note. SO next time we plan on ordering smarter. We will order the wontons, Dan Dan noodles (these two had distinct different flavors from each other) and something that is sweet AND spicy. Overall it was a good meal and we will for sure be returning. The kids noodles were good for them :) (good flavor) and the ginger ice cream had little pieces of crystallized ginger. It was a good ending to our meal. Oh and the service was good.
(4)Sarah J.
So darn good. I'm addicted. I save this for around my birthday every year or a group date night. When we started dating, my guy and I would go here pretty regularly, and have leftovers for two more meals. I try and coax as many people into coming with as possible. If I went more often, I would need to get a better job to handle my habit. Having tried many things on both sides of the menu, I've only really had one thing that I didn't like. I always ask the waiter what they recommend. Our waiter today was helpful and funny, and right on point. Back in the day we would be served by Han himself. youtube him, he is amazing. I will be making reservations for a group to join the monthly tastings. I understand how service could be tough from time to time. Again, maybe one visit in 6 years have we had a problem. Also great for a Monday option when wanting to dine out; in the restaurant biz that was our day off. I feel like if you are willing to taste new foods, and enjoy your eating experience, try a few things and let them know how hot you can handle and you can't go wrong. Order tons of things, eat it family style. Order the Walnut Honey Shrimp. My boyfriend swears by the dan dan noodles, which scare me, but that's ok. Better then average for sure, delivery would more then likely be profitable, but of course would depreciate the quality. Such a good meal tonight!
(5)Michael P.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Philadelphia area. Firstly there's an actual authentic Chinese menu in addition to a separate menu containing the typical "Americanized" fare. Do yourself a favor and order from the authentic menu. The hot & sour soup is yummy, and the dry pepper chicken is delicious while providing lots of spicy flavor. I'm not familiar with many good options in the Limerick/Royersford area, so whenever my wife and I make a trip to the outlets and need a bite, we'll be sure to top here.
(5)Joel D.
The food here is great. They have authentic chinese and Americanized. Everyone I have taken love the food. The reason for the two stars is recently I have had two bad experiences. First service was slow and it seemed like they had heat turned off. We all had to keep jackets on. Second time took about 5 min till they even came to seat us. Got seated and given water and then sat for another 10 minutes at which point we left. If you want good food order take from here. But know what you want their website is down and the response when I asked for takeout menu cause internet was down was that they dont have them...
(2)Nicki A.
If you want AUTHENTIC Chinese food and like to try different things, this is a go-to place for you. Don't go here and order the sesame chicken, not that it won't be good, but there's a reason that and other similar dishes are under the "Americanized" section. The dan-dan noodles are a must every time. It's like an explosion of spicy umami goodness. We also got the squid salt and pepper style, and the pork intestine dry pot. Worth the price. So happy that there is unique food like this around here.
(5)Julie R.
Picked up my order today and was waited on by Han!! What a nice surprise. He was funny and very nice. I'm so excited to have finally met him. And the food was perfect, as always!
(5)Prasanna R.
Me and my wife dined here a couple of times and the food was pretty good. First time we visited for lunch. I ordered the 'Ma Po Tofu' and wife ordered the 'Singapore Rice Noodle'. Both were pretty good. The next time we visited for dinner. I ordered the 'General Tso's Fried Tofu' and wife got the 'Vegetable Lo Mein'. Well the vegetable lo mein was decent, I was very disappointed with the quantity of 'General Tso's'. For $12 it is way too tiny. That is why three stars. I would probably visit here again for lunch, not for dinner.
(3)Greg L.
Stopped in here for dinner per a friends recommendation. It was a Friday evening and the place was pretty empty with only a few other tables filled. Service was friendly and good, although my water glass did sit empty for longer than I would have cared for. The menu consists of American Chinese and authenticate Chinese and we went with the American Chinese We started with the crab wontons, and I liked the fact that there was a decent amount of crab filling in the wontons. My wife and I shared the fried rice with chicken, shrimp, pork. It was a good size portion, but neither of us were overly impressed with the fried rice. It felt like normal rice with some veggies and meats mixed in. My wife went with the pepper steak which she really liked and I went with the sesame chicken, which was also fine. This is probably the first Chinese restaurant I've been to that didn't give you fortune cookies when you got your check. Overall though, a decent restaurant and we will likely be back.
(3)Wallee W.
Update for 2014. Several recent trips in the past 6 months have been very much unsatisfactory. One time we went as a group, the place was like 50*F inside and service was terrible despite our group being the ONLY ones in the restaurant. Another time I got takeout and arrived 5 mins after the promised ready time and had to wait another 20 mins. The final nail in the coffin was today, I had a big group pick out stuff for a large takeout order for lunch. After herding all of those cats, I call at 11:30 (they open at 11:30), no answer. Call again at 11:35, no answer. 11:40, 11:45, 11:50, same deal. I said f*** it and picked another local Chinese place (which was a major hassle because alot of people picked Szechuan items that aren't standard at Americanized Chinese restaurants) and said so long to Han Dynasty for the foreseeable future. Based on other reviews, it seems these are not isolated incidents. If these guys want to stay in business, they need to focus on the stuff going on outside of the kitchen.
(1)Paul C.
Had dinner at Han Dynasty over the weekend. A new redesigned menu made it a bit easier to decide. The spicy dishes are numbered from 1-10, 10 being the spicyest Some new items also. The chinese sausage appetizer with sliced garlic was delicious. The Mrs. had chicken with scallions...very tasty! Number 2 son enjoyed his beef lo mein, and i had #7 spicy pork. Very tasty, and yes, 7 is SPICY! Not just hot, very flavorful. The Americanized dishes are still available. A couple sat next to us and asked for a tofu dish not on the menu...the request was gladly accommodated, and when it came out it was beautiful! I had to ask what it was, and the nice couple offered to share some with us. It was fried tofu with dry hot peppers. WOW...it was amazing! They were very happy, and so were we.
(5)Ben F.
For the hype factor I keep going back hoping things will change. I've tried Royersford and Exton a few times each and I'm done now. The food is bad. The service is horrendous. Its certainly not worth the price. I heard the restaurant underwent management change like 2 years ago. Maybe that is the problem.
(1)Andrew M.
After careful consideration I will revisit this location. I was not aware that the owner sold the name to someone that ran it into the ground. So in all fairness, I will re-visit it with higher hopes. I have eaten at his other locations and found it to be great, so it pained me to give this location such a bad review. I will go back this weekend and hopefully remove my previous yelp entry.
(3)Dave S.
He sold it to someone who ran it into the ground and was giving his good name a trashing, but Han is back in RoFo!!! My first experience was amazing, thanks to Han's guidance, and my most recent was mind-blowing...and SPICY!! Still BYOB.
(5)Diana B.
The service was not good. They forgot my vegetable fried rice and forgot to remove it from the bill. We also waited forever to get service and the Restaurant wasn't even packed. Nonetheless, the food was delicious.
(3)Anne C.
Best authentic Sichuan style Chinese food in the Norristown area. Their spice rivals that of no other Asian restaurant in the area. I recommend looking at the authentic Chinese menu and get the Beef Tendon in Hot Sauce (sounds a bit sketchy but I assure you it is worth every chewy bite), triple delight chicken (ask to have it without the bones, perfect tenderness achieved), and Chicken with Hot Dry Pepper. The food was nothing short of amazing. Wish I was there now...
(4)G S.
Unfortunately, I need to recount all the wonderful things I shared regarding this restaurant over the 2 1/2 preceding years. The quality was truly exceptional with fantastic attention to detail at one point. At this time, I cannot fathom how they have mustered 4-5 4+ star reviews in the past 10 days without paying for them or hiring a new chef and management staff. The employees were rude and on one occasion showed up 45 minutes after they were scheduled to open and told me that it would only take a minute to get the kitchen open. Laughingly, all of my Co-workers now refer to that establishment as HandyNasty as I once jokingly referred to it after a bad experience.
(1)Ron D.
In town for business. Heard the food was good so had to try it out. Food, atmosphere and service was amazing. Don't be afraid to stray from what you usually get from your local place. Waiter suggested some choices off the menu and I can't wait to go back on my next trip out this way.
(5)Karen M.
Not like regular Chinese takeout / Chinese American food. Has some really good dishes. Great date spot and just as good for takeout! My son loves he pork belly and I love the beef cooked hot sauce style. Very different but extremely spicy.
(5)Gerald F.
Dan dan noodle. Salt and pepper shrimp. Spicy cucumber. Bok choy mushrooms. Love spicey food.
(5)Mike S.
My wife and I walked in after several referrals to find a disaster unfolding in front of us. Many people had to leave, there was only one chef and they were running out of ingredients left and right. I mean items like chicken broth, wontons, beef, etc... We asked for a refund, but the order was done, so we thought we would try it. Well if you like only the taste of salt, then this would win the prize. Please, trust me, do not go to this restaurant, they will be out of business in two months.
(1)Kim L.
2 things happened. I was out this way shopping and I stumbled into the shopping center. Always wanted to try the most buzzed about place in Philly ( yelp at least). But I hate driving and parking in the city and other locations are out of the way. As soon as I saw the sign I had to go in. My friend and I weren't disappointed by the Dan Dan noodles. We both are hooked! Everything else was above average Chinese fare . Han dynasty seems to be opening up locations everywhere. How about bucks county! Please, I'm jonesing! Lol!
(4)Tom U.
This is one of the best Chinese restaurants in the entire Philadelphia area. Their authentic cuisine is unique and satisfying while the chefs have the ability to cater to your particular tastes. We love it. Our kids love it. It is a nice place to eat-in or have take-out.
(5)Talia A.
Fantastic! We always order from the authentic menu and it has always been amazing. I would highly recommend it to everyone. After searching for years for a good Chinese restaurant, someone recommended Han Dynasty to us last year and now it is our favorite restaurant.
(5)Bob S.
Did takeout one day from here and was extremely pleased. Looks like it could be a good place to eat in. One of the few BYOB around. Staff seamed very energetic providing a pleasent place to eat.
(4)Johny G.
Average Chinese takeout. Too pricey. And service-without-smile at counter is a no-go. Too many competitors nearby to go back for more abuse. So sorry.
(2)Matt B.
If you want authentic Chinese food, this is the place. They have a few other locations in Manayunk and Philadelphia, however, I've found the Royersford location to have the best food and a more relaxed atmosphere. Service speed varies, but trust me, it's worth the wait!
(5)Dennis L.
Stopped by this little shop in a strip mall for lunch. I know of its high pedigree, being owned by the same owner as the ones in philadelphia. The Lunch special is cheap. I ordered off the authentic menu because I was told a head of time the Americanized dishes weren't that great (and that seems to be the case when I tried other people's orders off that list). I went with the Mapo Tofu w/ pork because that's a favorite of mine. The combo comes with rice, your choice of either hot and sour or egg drop soup, and an entree. The Hotand Sour soup is very flavorful and has a good kick to it. I was sweating from both the heat of the soup, the heat from the spice, and the heat from the restaurant (there's a/c but they need to turn that up for a Schwezwan style restaurant). The Mapo Tofu was a bit spicy and heavy on the chili oil, but the flavor was great. It really wasn't as spicy as I expected and that was ideal. I don't like super spicy stuff, but I hear they turn it down if you come with non asian people. I've had it take out at a friends' (same location) and it was deathly spicy oil, but it was also colder and the oil had congealed. either way, I'm a definite fan, just not of congealed spicey oil stuff. Eat it warm.
(4)Dave H.
Try the cumin lamb[1], it's worth making the trip here[2]. Savory, and very Szechuan. Their cooking is outstanding, authentic to a T. Everything is quite good and, in some cases, packs a decent amount of heat. Picky eaters can order Americanized Chinese; there's a section on the menu labeled as such. Fantastic service. An upscale interior makes you forget you're in a suburban strip mall; comically, Han Dynasty's layout is damn near identical to Sang Kee Wynnewood. Coincidence? Thanks to my friend for suggesting Han Dynasty! [1] Sorry vegetarians. On the bright side, there are many non-meat menu selections. [2] Don't feel like driving? Han Dynasty has a few other locations in the area.
(5)BostonBestEats X.
DOING THE NASTY IN THE 'BURBS Although I work only ~10 minutes drive from this outpost of Handy Nasty, I've never been, despite having visited the Old City location many times and being a complete spice-nick (LOL, I actually find HD not spicy enough, having "grown up" on the legendary Sichuan Gourmet in Billerica MA). Part of it may be that I've heard variable reports about the various non-Old City HD locations, as illustrated by the many 5-stars, but quite a few 1-stars that this location receives on Yelp (and maybe my skepticism regarding the prevalence of Chinese food gourmands in the 'burbs--OK, sue me, I'm an ethnic food snob). Anyway, I decided I was going to take my staff here for a holiday party (a Chinese lady who reports to me insisted we go somewhere besides Iron Hill for a change!). Just to be sure I wasn't taking them to a terrible spot, I went for dinner the evening before to check it out (I'm such a considerate boss!). And I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. HD-Royersford is actually a very attractive restaurant, appealing to me more than the Old City location, although it is located in the Limerick strip mall (just off the exit from 422). When we arrived at ~5:15PM on a weeknight, we were the first customers in the moderately sized (~50 seats) restaurant, which is decorated in an understated Chinese motif. Perhaps giving rise to some of the 1 star reviews and complaints about slow service, there appeared to only 1 server and 1 chef. But the 3 dishes we ordered arrived in quick succession within 5 minutes. By the time we left there were a couple of other tables occupied, but this location doesn't seem to be remotely as busy as the always-packed HD-OC. Interestingly, in contrast to HD-OC, there are "American" and "Traditional Chinese" pages on the menu, which are then divided up by ingredients like most Chinese restaurants, as opposed to the completely traditional menu in Old City that is uniquely divided up by cooking styles. Which concerned me as to authenticity. But, not to worry, the 3 traditional-style dishes we selected were excellent... We enjoyed (with complementary rice): 1) Eggplant in Garlic Sauce $6.50--Just tender enough, not falling apart, perfect. Moderately spicy. 2) Sanbeji (3-cup chicken)--This was on the clearly-not-updated-weekly "weekly top 10" dishes menu. A popular Taiwanese dish featured in a Sichuan restaurant? But at least it was a good version, piping hot, with a thick, somewhat sweet sauce, not as completely reduced as some versions I've so the tender cubed chicken wasn't as well done (some purists may not like it for that reason). As expected, only slightly spicy, so a good choice if you're not a spice-nick. 3) Lamb in Cumin $13.95--One of HD-OC's specialities, I actually preferred this version. I've only had it once at OC, and was mystified as to why it is so popular, but I quite enjoyed it this time around and should maybe give it another chance downtown. Spicy. Lunch the next day with my staff was also enjoyable (although I let them pick most of the dishes and I don't think they did quite as good a job at it, despite 15 minutes of arguing, as we did the previous evening). There is a lunch menu, but we were also able to order off the dinner menu. The Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) I insisted on experimenting with, against my better judgement, were serviceable, but I wouldn't order them again (it's almost impossible to find really good ones in the US--another dish the Taiwanese do better than anyone). However, on the down side, the service was a lot slower, again because there seemed to only be 1 or 2 servers. It took us 30 minutes to start getting our food and it came out slowly, so the lunch lasted 1 1/2 hours (we arrived at 12:30 and 2/3rds of the restaurant was occupied, so reservations were not necessary). All in all, the food was very good (although I still prefer Old City, and Han's quirky personality), but the service is likely to be very slow unless you arrive early, so I'm going to knock them down a star for that. But I'll definitely be back, given how convenient it is to work. BYOB. Easy parking in the lot out front. Oh, and that Chinese lady was quite impressed with the food. Which, if you know any Chinese ex-pats, you will realize is VERY high praise indeed, since they think Americans don't know how to mix Dan Dan noodles for themselves. Sláinte!
(3)Yoshi F.
Who would expect to find authentic Szechuan food in Royersford? Food is awesome and definitely worth the hype.
(5)Don B.
This place has really gone down hill like many other reviewers state. The service was always been an issue, but they have taken it to a whole new level. Combine that with a big drop off in food consistency and quality and I felt the need to also revise my review. One of the last times I was in, I placed a small to go order. The bill was less than 10$ and I only had a credit card and a 100$ bill. I offer him the credit card and he complains that it's not enough for a credit card. Sure, that's a reasonable response to some degree. I then offer him 100$ cash to which he whines at me that I don't have a smaller bill. I tell him to take his pick, but it's all I have. He very reluctantly charges my credit card and I leave without further issue. I thought this story was kind of funny and evident of a business that has no idea what they are doing. On a positive note , they did fix their signage so it now lights up after several months (years?) of not working. Let it be a beacon of light telling you to steer clear.
(1)Lawrence H.
Han is back and the quality shows. Order from the authentic side of the menu! Spicy and tasty.
(5)Chris d.
I hate to write a bad review for this place, as my friends rave about it. But I must disagree with them after my last visit. I will say also that I was disappointed that no one in charge really seemed to care...which is a symptom of growing larger than the owners can properly manage and hence poor products are delivered to the customer because no one in the building cares. I ordered the General Tsau's chicken platter for lunch. The wonton soup starter was bland (which is ok), but the chicken had a fish flavor...you know, when they fry fish in the same fryer as everything else. Ultimately the fryer oil gets a fishy taste and everything tastes a little fishy. Any decent restaurant will cook all fish in a designated fryer. With this in mind, and the fact that I hate the taste of fish, I said something to the waiter at the end of the meal. I also stated that I was not looking for a free meal. Bottom line...whether I was looking for a free meal or not, someone should have come out of the back and asked me about my concern. The waiter stated that it was not possible and his solution was to offer me a can of Coke (even though we had only water with our meals). I don't care if the waiter barely spoke English...whoever was in charge (and it was not the waiter) should have come out and asked me about it. I paid my bill in full and left without anyone saying anything else. Well since no one in that restaurant seems to care, I (and the work group I occasionally dine with) will not be dining there again. Disappointed Customer!
(1)Michael L.
The food is really good and they have authentic cuisine. That's about it for positives. Communication is very poor. I've ordered take out three times from here. Every time they forgot something. The last time, my wife went to pick up the food so she didn't check in the bag. They not only missed an item, but when we had to drive back they were out of it. What? They couldn't call us? Let us know when we came to pick it up? Nope. Not only that, but what made it worse was when we ordered we had to change two things already because "Oh, we out of that" or "sorry, no that". They need: 1.) A better english speaker - to better cover the language barrier 2.) Delivery 3.) Much better service
(2)Jason K.
Unfortunately something very bad happened to this place in the past year. As others have mentioned the food and service are terrible and what used to be my favorite Asian restaurant is now one I avoid. It seems like the Royersford restaurant became the proverbial redheaded stepchild of the chain. What a shame.
(1)Alex M.
More like Handy Nasty. And by that I mean, very very very good. As many have noted, the Dan Dan noodles rock. Even staples like the wonton soup are absolutely wonderful. I can't recommend one dish over another. There aren't many stellar, authentic, reasonably priced restaurants of any kind in Philadelphia, IMHO, and you're talking to a serious foodie here. Handy Nasty is the rare exception. The only reason for my 4 instead of 5 stars is that the menu seldom varies, even across HN's proliferating branches. And where the gifts of the chef and staff are so considerable, there's no excuse for that. Rotate or add to the regular dishes, and feature a weekly or daily special or two--please, Han! Diners, please remember that if you're not a spice person, or feel unsure what to expect heat-wise, dishes can be adjusted to have little or no heat. Also, look for Han himself at this and other locations. His wit is as dry and delicious as the dry rub.
(4)Matt K.
OK, this time I had help from a friend, and holy COW, this food was fantastic! Three hungry gents visited the Royersford Han Dynasty and ordered: duck in beer sauce, "popcorn" chicken (forget the actual name), Kung Pao chicken, whole fish, bok choy and mushrooms, cumin lamb. Spice levels were high but manageable, you could choose to eat as many or as few of the hot peppers in each dish that you wanted. The cuisine is definitely head and shoulders above any other Chinese cuisine that I have ever tasted. All the dishes were done to perfection, but the duck had a few too many bones. Our server was very friendly and helpful too. The decor is rather modern and you do forget that you are in a mall when you step inside. All in all a wonderful experience, and I will be back.
(5)Brian M.
I have become such a regular here, I think the staff are beginning to wonder if I'm stalking them. The food is tremendous. Yes, it's a bit spicy, but you can ask them to tone it down and they will. But if you like a bit of spice, just trust the cooks. I'm not a "super hot" kind of guy, and I've only had one dish that was too much heat for me. Also try the "authentic" side of the menu. That's were the real gems of this place will be found. But even the "Americanized" side of the menu will beat what you get at 99% of Chinese restaurants. I've only had one dish here I didn't like: The Curried Noodles. They detract from an otherwise phenomenal menu. A tad bit more expensive than the normal Chinese joint, but worth every cent! And a BYOB to boot! You have to try it. You'll soon be stalking Han Dynasty too. Tip: Double-cooked fish!!!!!
(5)Jen J.
I am quite amazed by the five star rating up here. I am Chinese and have been to this restaurant no less than 7-8 times. While the food is fairly authentic, the one thing that has always annoyed me was how incredibly salty everything was 50% of the times that I have been here. On these days, all I could taste was salt and the people (I went with different groups) in my groups agreed. I find it distasteful that instead of admitting that the chef may have heavy handed the salt portion (I suspect he or the alternate chef is a smoker), the waitress/hostess always suggests that we have "light" tastes and that the next time we go we need to let them know ahead of time. Um....excuse us for having "irregular" tastebuds but there is nothing wrong with my salt evaluation, especially considering half the times the dishes are fine and not overly salty. I have travelled extensively for work throughout the continental US and have lost count of the Chinese restaurants that I have visited. I KNOW when there is too much salt in the dishes, and this happens very rarely. I find it insulting that a restaurant consistently points out to me that my tastebuds are unusual and that i need to request low sodium upfront. I have never had to do that at any other places and am not about to start.
(3)Jeremy L.
If you are accustomed to the Han Dynasty in Exton, do not go here. I was excited to see that a Han Dynasty was nearby in Royersford. Boy, my excitement flew out the window! The service is subpar, and I thought it was very odd that this place was not very busy on a Friday night. I just thought that people didn't know about this place. I got my food to go and ordered the dan dan noodles, and a sweet and sour chicken. I got home and was more excited than a child on Christmas morning. I started with the dan dan noodles (and I must admit you get a giant container of them), however when I started to eat these noodles they were spicier than anything I have ever experienced before. I just wrote it off that these were just a spice that I wasn't accustomed to. Then I started to eat the sweet and sour chicken, the sauce was on the side, and the chicken was just the typical Americanized version of puffed deep fried tasteless chicken. I spent around $20 and I threw my sweet and sour chicken out. I called my friend that loves Han Dynasty (Exton location) and told him I would bring him the dan dan noodles so he and his wife could enjoy them. I warned him that they are spicy, and he said that he wasn't concerned because he orders them all of the time. After he and his wife tried the noodles, they threw them out agreeing that it tasted like spaghetti mixed with the hottest sauce on earth and over seasoned. I will never return, even if the management would give me a complimentary meal. I am very disappointed, and never thought my first 1 star review would go to Han Dynasty!
(1)Jimmy K.
The best of both worlds! The authentic tastes were new, and of course the familiar Americanized dishes will be ideal for the non adventurous. The service is shotty at best, but the food more than makes up for that department. Will most likely want to go again when I'm carving the spicy Szechuan taste! Warning for those who've never had Szechuan cuisine, beware of the dishes that contain Szechuan peppercorns... It straight up numbs your tongue which can be quite intense for those not used to the sensation.
(4)Atif I.
Which is the odd one out? a) Beef with Broccoli b) General Tso's Chicken c) Sesame chicken d) Szechuan French Fries The answer, obviously, is d. However, not for the apparently obvious reason, but for the fact that this dish, (not on the menu) is the only 'authentic' one of the four listed above. I have a beef, no pun intended, with Americanized Chinese food. I HATE IT! No seriously, I can't stand it. I would think in the last ten years, the cuisine I've had the least is Chinese. It's less to do with the fact that I was raised on Szechuan, Hunan and Hakka, for my subsequent Asian travels acquainted me with Cantonese, Fujian, and Xinjiang. But, it was only in the glorious land of the free that I was acquainted with the 'Blandese' cuisine that insults the good name of Chinese cooking. There's good reason why the food blogs and critics rave about Han Dynasty. The Szechuan dishes are at their fiery best here with no attempt to hold back on the heat that would make you sweat buckets on a sub freezing winter day or cry rivers of tears at Mardi Gras - Han Dynasty truly brings HD into restaurants serving Szechuan cuisine on the East Coast. The dry pot of flounder fillets (melt in the mouth texture!) served in a mini-wok over a blue flame has got to be the best dish I've had in a while. It engulfs you in an intoxicating pleasure pain two-step much like the irresistible allure of the bad boy/girl. You know the attraction will cause you pain and tears, but from the cold dishes of the Chengdu capital to the spitfire hot and pungent dishes from Chongqing you will experience a truly unique range of emotions. It's not all heat, though. You can appreciate layers of flavors (e.g. in the marinated and flash-fried cumin lamb), and textures (e.g. the fried potatoes descriptively named in 'd') not simply the peppercorns, chillies, and hot bean paste. The one thing I personally relate with HD is the absolute and utter contempt the owner, Han has for the mundane dishes popularly deemed as Chinese (e.g. selections 'a' and 'b' in the pattern recognition question at the beginning of the review). In fact, he would be the first to rubbish his own versions of them, listed on the menu under "Americanized". Han is courageously fighting a battle for authenticity, at times one would think at a cost to himself, for friends have mentioned that there might be an element of sabotage, not simply disdain for the garden variety General Tso chicken - dry, rubbery and bland. The fortune cookie at the end, might as well have been presented at the start of the meal for the prediction of "your wish is about to come true" had indeed. Some inconsistency aside, Han offers seriously sensational Szechuan... now repeat that quickly ("seriously sensational Szechuan") to give your tongue another work-out to save it from the "tingly numbing" sensation commonly experienced. Me... I douse all fire with Capogiro gelato.
(5)Ruth H.
Worst han dynasty experience. Wish I had read Andrew M. review before I ate here. Really enjoyed other han dynasty locations. We also ordered kung pao chicken on the authentic menu and it was horrible. This is the parts of the chicken we throw away. We told the manager and after arguing for several minutes, he took it off the bill. Dan dan noodles were ok. Won't be going back to Royersford location ever. Much smaller menu than other locations with no descriptions.
(1)Robert T.
Ate dinner here last Friday. Got there a little ahead of the crowd. Very pleasant ambiance. Had chicken in garlic sauce and my son had Kung Pao chicken. My elderly parents tried noodle dishes, pork and beef but didn't think there was enough meat and were disappointed. Oddly, we only were given water to drink and were not asked if we wanted drinks of any other kind, such as the traditional tea pot. The hostess/waitress was very kind and took time to explain the dishes but service was very, very slow, to the extent that it really brought the dining experience down for us. Parking was generous and the men's room was clean. I think it might be better to order the food in "take out" as a way to experience their food but without the very slow service.
(3)Christopher D.
Grab your water bottle and head to Han Dynasty. I just had a great lunch that included stellar dishes like dumplings in hot oil, dan dan noodles, and twice cooked pork. Service was great and the food paired well with a hoppy beer from Stones. Cannot wait to have more.
(4)Enrique C.
This is a great chinese restaurant. I go to eat there everytime I have a chance (this means everytime my wife wants to go... ha ha ha). The flavours and the taste of the dishes are very good and you can differentiate the ingredients used. The food is szechuan, so if you like spicy food, this is the deal. I can not recommend a dish because I would write the whole menu. The service is very friendly and do not forget to ask for their spicy veggie pickles... they do not usually give it unless you ask for it. For me, this Chinese restaurant is in my Top 3 (the other 2 are in San Francisco).
(5)Chris M.
Real Chinese. Really good, however service has gone down and quality has too. That being said better than anything around here.
(5)Brandon G.
Food is fantastic. Service, not so much. Waitress made fun of my picky eat in wife for ordering "american food". All of us excluding my wife had the Dan Dan noodles, curried beef tendon (served cold) , pork belly, pork fried green beans & fried dumplings. We asked for the dumplings to be fried on both sides and our waitress laughed and said "oh chef won't do that, too many other orders" to which I reminded her we were paying for our food so it had better be the way we asked. other than that everything was fantastic.
(4)Kevin W.
The signage and the strip mall location might leave doubters wondering if they should be going to the grocery store instead, but have faith. Upon opening the menu you'll see egg rolls and general tso's and... oh thank god that's just the page of Americanized grub. If you turn it one more time you get to the good stuff, under the Authentic heading. We had the meat buns, the rabbit and peanuts in chili oil, the lamb in cumin and the twice cooked pork ribs. Everything was excellent, though the lamb in cumin was oddly better at the end of the meal than it was at the beginning. (In the beginning it felt a little bit one-note, but it got better with each bite.) I'm definitely coming back.
(5)Cliff J.
Really, in my back yard? Craig Laban (Philly Inquirers master restaurant reviewer) gives Hans three bells (Excellent) out of four. For those that follow Craig, we know the rarity of a three bell restaurant as most of his reviews are one or two bells. So this obviously caught my attention. Hands down, Hans Dynasty is the absolute BOMB for Chinese cuisine. Simply awesome. I ordered take out only, so I cannot comment on the table service. Although, the dining room was completely full and smiles could be seen everywhere. The staff seemed friendly and were attentive while I was waiting for my order to be completed, quickly welcoming new guests as they walked through the door. The decor is modern Chinese and definitely reflects the origin of the menu. Visually, it is a mix of complimentary textures and colors, Large slate tile married with natural woods in warm red tones. The space is small, and fills quickly, but the noise level didn't seem too bad. In the back of the dinning area was a finishing station, mirrored with a large frosted window behind which the primary kitchen. Every so often you see bursts of flame through the frosted glass as dishes are prepared. Way cool. The dining area is very clean, even after a full year in business. So here's what we got witha brief review for each. Sweet and sour cucumbers - Crisp, bright with a nice sweetness and hint of spice. Each diagonally cut wedge was nearly the same size demonstrating real attention to detail and of course, some serious knife skills. Dumplings with chili oil - Savory and salty (not too salty though). These are the best dumplings I have ever tasted. The sesame seeds added a nice texture to the soft dumpling. Dan Dan Noodles - I have to say, this was not a hit for me. The flavor was obvious and the spice well-balanced. The noodles have a licorice overtone. Thats not a criticism, it just doesn't favor my palette. I can see why people like this dish. Chicken with broccoli - Again, this was a huge winner with myself and my girlfriend. Nice sweetness and a really unique flavor. I NEVER order chicken, but I would order this again. Double cooked pork - This was my favorite dish on this visit. The pork was tender and juicy, thinly sliced in a wonderful sauce. It did have a little kick, but like all other "spicy" dishes, it was never overpowering. Pork lo mein - This is my usual favorite noodle. Again, this may sound repetitive, but the best lo mein I've ever had. Tons of flavor, perfectly cooked. Period. In all of our food, the freshness of the ingredients shined through. The flavors were well balanced against the spicy ingredients. In addition, each dish was unique. Nothing had a similar taste or flavor. My girlfriend and I could not stop eating. Even after three plate fulls, mixed with eat menu item, we were ready for more. We settled on saving the rest for lunch the next day. The portions are pretty good for the price. All the food listed cost a total of $54. A great value. Look, this is a must stop. Wether you go to the Philly, Exton or Royersford locations, just go. IF YOUF FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL, PLEASE RATE IT AND SEND ME A COMPLIMENT. ONLY TAKES A SECOND!!!
(4)Percy N.
Han got a new Chef from a well known Sichuan restaurant in NYC. As hard as it is to believe, the food is even better. Hard to put a finger on what is different, but the dishes are just slightly tweaked...in a good way. If you are not in the mood for something spicy (I know, its odd) then try the Crispy rice with chicken. Go check it out !!
(5)Jim H.
This review is as much for the UYE ARSE event as it is for the establishment. Honestly, I'm comfortable with my boring eating habits. Lately however, Ive been forced out of my culinary comfort zone. I often feel like the grumpy guy from "Green Eggs and Ham" (did he have a name? Was it Jim?) I will not eat Tripe and Pig Intestines I will not eat them in a car I will not eat them on a bar. I will not eat them piled high with amazingly hot chile peppers. I came to Han Dynasty with some great people, with the intention of trying some new things and burning my face off at the same time. Han's is in an unassuming strip mall. Its often been said about UYE's, that the quality of the company is so great, that the location is inconsequential. I would usually agree but in this case, Han Dynasty (and more specifically, Han himself) was like the 10th guest and intergal to the fun of the evening. Hans has a very cool and inviting decor and we were set up right in the middle of the action. We had a very funny and entertaining server, who I later found out was the owner, Han, himself. His level of humor and honesty is unmatched. When jokingly asked by one of us, how the General Tso Chicken is, he replied, " Its Shit!" He definitely encouraged us and( by the segmented Authentic/ Americanized menu) others to steer clear of the normal Chinese food staples and try authentic Chinese cuisine. Our group, was full of knowledgeable, worldly people and it enhanced the whole experience. Between the conversation, and the food I was overwhelmed. They made it easy for me to try things and my God! there was alot to try. Steaming plates of spicy goodness, fantastic wine, sweat inducing pallate spankers. Everyone left stuffed. I love how there was a menu insert, which told you the specials, as well as the Top Ten most popular entrees of the month. I could almost hear Casey Kasem reading them off to me. ..... " And now, at #5 dedicating this to his one legged cat, Tea smoked Duck!" It was through this list that I made my choice of entree, Double fried Beef strips (3 chile rating out of 4!) It was awesome and widely considered a good choice. Owwwww! I just injured my arm patting myself on the back. It was just as good the next day, while I sat in my car on my lunch break at work. It was also somehow hotter the next day as I also sat in my car contemplating guzzling antifreeze to offset the heat. As stated earlier, we left Hans, entertained, stuffed and ready for round 2 at a date to be named later.I had been debating going but once again, I was glad that I overcame my initial fears of trying new things. Ill leave you with some observations of the event. - The women who showed up, (including Aaron) were stunning in both appearance and charm. - I haven't had such good wine in ages. Between Caroline's husband's homemade white and the Francis Ford Coppola Red (better than Godfather 3 -not as good as The Outsiders) there couldn't have been a better accompaniment to the meal. - Han was amazing and we were honored to get the VIP treatment from him. He was like the Asian Chris Rock, cracking us up with his "blue" material. My favorite , was his idea of "different" fortune cookies. The only one that is printable was " That wasn't Chicken, you just ate" - Its funny to watch beads of sweat, form on bald guys heads. - I feel truly sorry for those that didn't attend. Dont make the same mistake in the future.
(5)David Z.
worst experience in years. Revisited this restaurant with several colleagues to celebrate Chinese new year. we were all disappointed. Waited over 20min for hot tea and the rice was cold and hard (last night's left over?) Food quality and service, 2 thumbs down! They need to fix this place up fast!
(1)Nick B.
I am definitely a fan of Han. This location is not too far from my house, in a strip mall near Rita's Water Ice in Royersford. The interior is nicely decorated, though a little dim. I swear I've been seated at the same table for the past three times! As far as appetizers go, yes, I'll reiterate what almost everyone else has said: get the Dan Dan noodles! They are delicious and have just the right amount of spiciness. For entrees - I've had the pork lo mein (huge portions, might I add!) Also, the Three Cup Chicken is a very good pick. Not too spicy at all, and just the right amount of savory. Service is generally decent, although the other night they only had one chef on duty (!) and thus, the service suffered greatly. Definitely a 3 star night. But on the whole, Han is generally pretty good, so they deserve at least 4 stars for all of the other good times.
(4)J M.
Went on a Sunday Night with 2 companions. Only about 4 other tables, with 2 people waiting for takeout, It took almost 10 minutes to flag down the solitary waiter to take our drink orders. He scampered away before we could tell him that we were ready to order. We finally ordered soup and entrees after about 20 minutes. soup came 15 minutes later after a reminder, and on and on - the first entree came out over an hour after we ordered, and it took us another 5 minutes to confirm that the other entrees waren't ready yet, so we asked that they be put in carry-out boxes - which STILL took an inordinate amount of time. Hard to blame the server - he hardly stopped to take a breath the whole time we were there, taking orders for takeout, boxing and running the takeout, occasionally taking orders or bringing out whatever the kitchen had been able to make. some of the others there waiting for takeout said that there was usually at least one more server there on Sundays.s I'm not big on demanding compensation for poor service, but I was rather amazed that they charged us the full amount after such a lousy performance. in any case, I didn't want to wait around any longer to complain.
(1)James F.
I hear a lot of people talk about the "spice" and that this establishment "rivals" other restaurants flavors. I have to admit, the food is pretty good however you'd be talking about the hot and spicy Sichuan Pepper Oil, the Chili Oil and, the Cilantro and Lemon Grass, etc. I just sent a message to the business and want to hear back. I want to know what happened to my Sliced Beef and Tripe with Chili Oil. The last three times I ordered it was simply not the same. This, above all was the most incredible, most addictive thing I've ever eaten and they freaking changed it. No longer hot, filled with vinegar at times and who knows what happened to that lemony zing you only get from Sichuan Pepper Oil. I'm pissed. On a better note, things like the Tea Smoked Duck, the "authentic" wontons and such are still pretty good. Everything is fresh, never a problem with that. I am just unbelievably disappointed that the recipes seems to change day to day. The customer service cracks me up sometimes but not in a bad way. The people are totally cool to deal with and they often comment that I only order the really hardcore menu items. I'll update after a while, I haven't given up. Please bring back whoever was making those dishes.
(3)Irene G.
We had out of town guests and decided to go to our favorite Chinese restaurant Han Dynasty in Royersford, Pa. What an embarrassment and complete disaster this turned into. There were nine of us for dinner last Sunday night (3/24/2013). We waited quite a while for a very inexperienced waiter to come to our table. We had to ask several times for a pot of tea while we were deciding what to order. When it was finally delivered no cups were brought with the one pot for nine people. Realizing they were having trouble serving customers, we streamlined our order by having one person order for all of us. Not seeing one of our favorite dishes on the menu that we had ordered many times previously (eggplant with shrimp stuffing) she replied "no comprendo". A 2nd server who appeared very inexperienced just shrugged his shoulders when we asked the same question but he did take our order. After an additional 45 minute wait we demanded that our dinner be served. Two main dishes came out before appetizers, and only bowl out of 5 soups were served. Another long wait to get more main dishes and appetizers, still no soup for 4 of us. We demanded the soup and it came out lukewarm and not very tasty. All the other appetizers and main dishes came out haphazardly and were lukewarm at best. It was just a disaster. The house special fried rice was especially disappointing. It only contained a shred of pork and a few peas, without any flavor. It did not look fried at all. Our favorite dish the tea duck came out as we finished dinner and we told server to take it back as we had enough! What a complete disaster and so embarrassing to us because we bragged how great this place was to our guests. As we left other tables with customers were complaining and even the folks that ordered take out were complaining. The food needs to be served in the correct order, hot, and the service needs to be greatly improved. Han Dynasty was our favorite Chinese restaurant so we'll give it one more try in a few weeks to see if it improves. If not we won't return.
(1)Danan R.
The three cup chicken, crystal wontons in chili oil, dry woked beef, and boiled fish in hot sauce were excellent. The boiled fish dish tasted very similar to a dish that I had at Shanghai's South Beauty a few months ago. Nice! I have had better Dan Dan noodles from Mary Chung in Cambridge, but the dish here was decent enough. They specialize in Szechuan dishes so be sure to get those here. I wouldn't come here for Americanized Chinese food or your typical Cantonese cuisine, but their Szechuan entrees are fairly authentic and quite spicy. Definitely recommend.
(4)D.R. S.
I really wanted to give this place good ratings....but with service this poor I just can't. Called to get reservations, and they told me they were full, and hung up. Still, i persisted, due to the high ratings on Yelp. We showed up and were eventually seated. Menu gives no description of the food you are ordering, so I asked help from the waiter (of which there were only 2) and he was no help. Ordered the Pork Belly, inedible, Kung Pao, okay, and the dumplings, good. Had to suffer through the spice with 1 glass of water, only to have the waiter come over when we were ready for the check, and ask for a refill. Want to go back, but maybe not on a Saturday when they are so busy.
(2)John Z.
Haven't been here in awhile. Originally liked it because it was so authentic, delicious, and vibrant. My wife and I decided to return last Friday night. Turns out things have changed. It started out with the menus---it looked like they had been tossed in a dumpster and then scavenged to be reused. They were dirty, stained, ripped, and in some places you couldn't read the writing. But what the heck---things like that happen. We were just happy to sit, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the food and ambiance. Until the show started. The wait staff (and I use the term loosely) was unbelievable. The front of the house was staffed by three young guys (all in high school). Nice, pleasant young guys, but so inexperienced it was laughable. As we sat wide-eyed, one waiter ran from one end of the restaurant to the front, while two others yelled to each other across the room. Twice while we sat there, customers who had come in to pick up their takeout orders inspected the bagged items only to come up with incorrect or missing items. Then our spastic trio hemmed and hawed and ran around some more. Really, this was more of a floor show than we expected. It looked like there was no adult supervision. After a reasonable wait, our appetizers arrived. My wife had to flag down one of the guys twice to get some dipping sauce. The appetizers weren't very good, tasting doughy and dry (and lukewarm). Then, about 30 seconds into our appetizers, my entree arrived, but not my wife's, which came 10 minutes later. Both entrees were just average---nothing like the excellent food we remembered. Plus, our waiter never brought us any rice---even after we asked. I could understand all of this if the house was packed with customers, but at 7 PM on a Friday night there were just the two of us and a table of three and a table of six---not quite a packed house. When finally we ended this less than stellar meal, our pleasant waiter came over to our table and handed us the bill---no questions whether we wanted something else or the traditional fortune cookie. My guess is all the fortune cookies probably said, "You will never return to this restaurant again."
(2)Josh C.
We gave this place one last shot because we heard it had returned to its old glory. Well, definitely not so. The food was meh, the tables were dirty (I had to call the waiter back twice to wipe it, then he took the lazy suzan away to clean it and returned it still with some dried food on it). The bathrooms are gross. This place was fantastic up until 3 years ago. It is now smelly and the food and the service are really marginal. So sad- I used to spend about $100/month at this place on lunch. Never again. Someone who knows the owner should really set them straight. And the health department should pay them a visit.
(2)Kunal P.
res ipsa loquitur (in its literal meaning)
(4)Harikrishnan N.
Worst food ever .... N worst service ever...wud hv given 0 star if its possible.... Food quality is so bad... They dont refill the water... Miss many food items.... They'll ruin your evening or best family lunch or whatever it is.....
(1)Abby G.
We have been big vocal fans of this place since it opened. Went last week and it was embarrassingly horrible. Worse than their typical service, greasy food, unidentifiable chicken, place is dirty. Sad
(1)Andy S.
I can say without hyperbole that you won't find anything better than this restaurant anywhere, in any time, in any dimension. Why? Because of the...the flavor. The kind of flavor you crave in your dreams. I've wanted to dine here every since I heard about it some time ago (thank you, Yelp). Never in my life would I think "gosh, I really want some authentic, spicy Chinese food...to Royersford I shall go!", but thanks to Yelp, I did. The lure of "the spicy" was too much to resist. You see, I like spicy food, and I can hardly ever get my fix anywhere. Semi-ironically located right next to Palermo's, and with bottles (and cans) from Sly Fox in tow, my companion and I first hit the wontons in chili oil. Oh...em...gee. I wanted to drink the oil it was sooooo good. But I figured that might look weird. So the entrees...I ordered the Hot Pot, mostly because it had the highest(?) spice rating on the menu. It wasn't even on the menu, but on the other piece of paper that came with the menu. I was all "ok, um...chicken is always good...well maybe fish...fine, all of it". It was clearly more volume than even I could handle, but I lost all sense of shame long ago. I thought I ordered it "for one", but I got two huge bowls placed in front of me, absolutely covered in the most glorious peppers ever to be seen by man. Ironically, it wasn't spicy at all..."hot", yes, in the sense that you felt a gradually growing flame from within, but not anything that made you want to chug a cold drink. I barely touched my water (though I drank plenty of the beer, but I would do that anyway). The best part was that I had enough leftover to take home and eat for breakfast. Yes, I ate hot pot for breakfast, because I am so epically hardcore even in the wee hours. If I could find a negative, it was with the incredulity on behalf of the staff. Yes, I want the hot pot. Yes, I know its spicy. Yes, I am sure. Yes, I see you pointing at me from the kitchen and laughing. Yes, I see you peeking around the corner as I start eating it. Yes, I know both you and the other server are surprised when you come over and and see that I am done eating and not even remotely in distress. But I understand given the location many people come into the restaurant and (knowingly or not) step on a landmine, so its all good. Han Dynasty offers an experience usually relegated to things not entirely legal, so for that I salute you. I shall return, as "the spicy" exists nowhere else. I don't care if I have to make a day out of it, because I will order an extra meal to take home for the next day. Or maybe two. Whatever.
(5)Josh L.
I have enjoyed the food at all 3 Han Dynasty locations. The restaurants are all owned by Han and his parents. They offer authentic Chinese as well as an Americanized menu. I go often and while I have had many of their authentic meals, my girlfriend and I usually eat the dumplings in chili oil, dan dan noodles (chinese noodles with minced spicy pork) and 3 cup chicken. The first two are rather spicy and the 3 cup chicken (without bones) is on the sweet side and balances the meal out. Sometimes the service is a little tough, but they do get busy and there is nothing wrong with flagging down any employee there to get you what you need. Monthly they also do a tasting of something like 20 of their entrees. I have not attended yet but I would love to try it.
(5)David F.
Holy shit! I've never experienced a restaurant quite like this one. It gets better every time we go and the favorite food list continues to grow. This time I had fish in a dry pot (hot, hot, hot) with bamboo shoots and black bean hot sauce. We also tried the beef tendon which was also cooked in the hot black bean sauce (a staple ingredient in most dishes), and both were 5+ stars. But the dish that stole the show for me was the rabbit which was really tasty a quite a new flavor for me. I've had rabbit before but never prepared like at Han with peanuts, black bean, bamboo shoots and other vegetables that really eliminated any grassy flavor that is common in rabbit. Again, I can't stress enough that if you're gonna go to Han's then please do yourself a favor and ask Han what to order and never.... ever order anything from the American menu. It's insulting to the restaurant and what they're trying to achieve with the authentic cuisine. Lastly, I continue to say that Han himself is 90% of what makes his restaurant great. He really cares what you order and he wants you to get the full, authentic Chinese experience. 10 stars if they were available.
(5)cotie s.
Second time in under two weeks...no problem! Tried two new dishes, Bok Choy with black mushrooms, and deep fried shredded beef. Bok Choy with black mushrooms was a good veggie option, which I recommend to help balance out any of the meaty/spicy dishes you order. Now to the SPICY...deep fried shredded beef. We were even offered to have this dish "normal" or "extra" spicy, we went with normal. I really enjoyed this dish, while the rest of our table found the spicy meter to be above their taste bud's threshold for hotness. Again, Han did not disappoint and I'm left continuing to want more.
(5)Tracey K.
I am visiting from Las Vegas and wanted good Chinese here in royersford for my family. I went on yelp who recommended this restaurant as the best. I have one word to describe everything we ate...DRY! It was horrible.We had steamed.dumplings which were fair but was given the smallest amount of dipping sauce I have ever seen in my life. The BBQ chicken sticks, not only didn't bare an ioda of sauce actually resembled sticks, dry dry dry . vegetable lo mein and Singapore noodles were tasteless and also dry. We also attempted vegetable and pork fried rice... Do I dare say it again DRY. Eek is right, try somewhere else.
(1)Statia M.
I've only ever gotten take out from Han, but I have to say, it's one of the best places in the area. The food is definitely not your average crappy takeout. My favorite is the walnut shrimp. Oh man, that stuff just permeates my taste buds, and leaves me salivating for more. I haven't had decent authentic Chinese food since I lived in California, so I'm happy that there's a place right in my very small town backyard. I plan on re-reviewing this place when I finally am able to go there.
(4)Jillian P.
After visiting Vegas thirty million times I began to learn that you can find a gem in any "strip mall" situation. Han Dynasty is a perfect example. The atmosphere is wonderful, serene and classy. The service was very friendly and helped us order our food. When I say helped I mean gave suggestions on what went well together and informed us when we should probably stop. "That will be enough". Normally that would annoy me, but I learned the error of my ways. He knew. He was right. Others have said it and I'll say it again. Wonton soup...phenomenal. I could eat an entire meal of just that. Kung Pao chicken...delicious Walnut and Honey (that might be wrong) shrimp...yum Three Cup Chicken...I wasn't a fan. But to me personal preference does not dictate quality of food. The flavors may appeal to you (a little salty for me). All in all this place has added to my excitement for living in Royersford. Thank you Han!
(5)Tom C.
There is a song by Buster Poindexter called "Hot Hot Hot" that kept running through my head as I enthusiastically shoveled mass quantities of nuclear warheads into my mouth last night. What a trip, I kept waiting for a coyote with the voice of Johnny Cash to appear as my spirit guide, but alas no groovy visuals. The thing that stood out most to me was that none of it was hot for the sake of hot. The flavors of every dish stood out despite the little red devils sticking their pitchforks into my tongue and my bodies water works foreman deciding to open up the flood gates and turn the sweat dial to full blast! In fact, I think it was because everything tasted so good in addition to the heat that I committed a slow act of suicide by impending ulcer. Quick run down: Won ton &/or Dumplings in chili sauce were amazing 3 cup Chicken fantastic, although the tiny bones created their own unique minefield Flounder in dry pot was incredible and incredibly spicy! There must have been 5 flounders in the dish and the various mushrooms put this over the top for me.
(5)Steve M.
Best Chinese food.
(5)Melch R.
Han Dynasty is great. I was bummed for years over the lack of a proper Szechuan spot in Philadelphia. I'd try a dish here or there in Chinatown on recommendation, but nothing really hit the mark. I spent a nice bit of time traveling through the Sichuan province several years back and was floored by the food there, came back eager. Sadly, I had to make my way to Manhattan or Flushings, Queens for the good stuff. Guess not sadly, my lady lived in Queens. Anyways... I asked my Chinese buddy at work if he knew of any proper spots in or around Philly. He got excited and pointed me to Han Dynasty. I trekked out and understood why - the place is great. I've made my way through most of the super spicy seafood or veg dishes, always chatting with Han himself for tips, off-menu stuff and to make sure no other meat ends up in the order. Like everybody else has mentioned, Han is the man. He always chats, makes goofy jokes and gushes enthusiasm about his menu. He's gotten to know what I like and sets me up good and hot. It's in a stripmall/suburban type of hell, but worth the drive. Pair it up with a couple of beers around the corner at Sly Fox, especially for the stuff on tap you can't really find in town, and tote along a growler for the meal. Not so bad, afterall. Han cracks me up.
(5)E T.
I love the food but I only eat the authentic fare. The service is not great even for someone that eats or orders takeout frequently. This is at the royersford place. I've also eaten at the Exton location with much better food and service. The Exton site does a better job of explaining and cooking the food (menu is slightly different). I love the spiciness of the food and love the fact that the will adjust not only the spiceness but also the contains....don't like the mushrooms, just tell them to leave them out and they will.
(4)alison m.
The food here is really great. I ordered the sliced fish with tofu (came in a hot chili oil sauce). Everything was cooked perfectly and the flavors were outstanding. Wish I had a Chinese food restaurant like this near me!
(4)George M.
Great lunch specials and their service was insanely quick....maybe that's because it was a Tuesday afternoon and only 3 other parties were in there, but they still knocked it out of the park. Courteous wait staff, clean restaurant - I will definitely be back.
(5)DAVID W.
Zero stars - but that wasn't an option. By and far the WORST dining experience our family has ever had. We walked into what was at least an eighty degree room. There were only two servers and one busser, which left us waiting 15 minutes for a hostess (even with reservations). We were seated in a corner without enough chairs. We waited fifteen minutes to finally flag down a server and ask for a chair and water for the table. We ordered egg rolls, which would not arrive for another 40 minutes after having to remind them three times that we had ordered them. We also ordered wonton soup - which never arrived. We ordered one entree per person, six total. One arrived. Fifteen minutes later another. A half our later two more. Twenty minutes later another. And finally, more than an hour since the first entree arrived... The last one. During this time I questioned the server as to where our food was and he said we could cancel everything or wait. The service was the worst I'd ever seen, the servers (one of whom is part owner) were rude to say the least, and our whole family left hot and angry with the entire evening. When I called the Philadelphia location to speak with the owner regarding the service at Royersford, his response was "What do you expect?! We run shitty Chinese restaurants!". Verbatim - exact words. I was floored. He was pompous, rude and said "If you don't like it, don't come back. I have a theory that Chinese people will never be able to serve Americans the way they expect to be served." Needless to say - we will NEVER go back.
(1)cheri c.
I'll just echo what everyone else has said! Great food, service, ambience and very affordable! Definitely worth a try! The employees are VERY friend including the man who I assume is the owner/manager. I will definitely be back! Also, I love the fact that they have both an "Americanized Chinese Menu" and an "Authentic Chinese Menu"!
(5)James S.
Amazing, amazing, amazing Chinese food in Royersford! Who knew you'd find an authentic Chinese restaurant in the shadow of the Limerick nuclear reactor...I went to Han Dynasty on a Saturday night in early March after reading excellent reviews on Yelp. We waited in line for 15 minutes and were genuinely surprised at how *good* everything was. Appetizers: Egg roll and Spring rolls. Totally homemade, as evidenced by the burrito-sized egg roll and 10 minute wait for spring rolls. Entrees: Awesome hunan chicken (mild heat) and flounder in dry pot (noticeable heat). The flounder was a great surprise -- very fresh, lightly breaded, spicy sauce. Hunan chicken was a great accompaniment because it had a slightly sweeter flavor. Portions were large, too, although we ate everything they put in front of us. Dessert: Too full. The meal was so good that 4 days later, we went back for more hunan chicken and shrimp fried rice. Admittedly these were "Americanized" items but they were just as good. In the end (if you couldn't tell), I totally recommend Han Dynasty!
(5)Sowmya M.
Food not good..servers extreme recklessness and they refilled water after several requests
(1)Jeni A.
Love the food - if you are coming here for typical Chinese fare go elsewhere, this place shines because of it's authenticity. We've tried lots of dishes and haven't had anything not spot-on. To be clear, if it says it's spicy it's about 10 times hotter than you'd expect so have lots of beer on hand! As noted by others attitude is the problem here - we do take-out to avoid it but once we had $100+ order for a family function and waited 75+ minutes (after being told 30) only to be told that there was no rice available!! I was pretty calm but those that reacted with disbelief were immediately given attitude.
(4)Jand J.
WOW! We had a wonderful time at this restaurant -- the menu offered "Americanized" and "Authentic" dishes -- took us a long time to narrow down what we wanted (and that's great!) My fiance had fish in dry pot and raved about it (and there was much more than he could eat... and that is saying a lot!) I had stir fry vegetables with home style tofu. This was similar to what I might order from any other Chinese restaurant, except the taste was so sharp and "fresh" -- I knew I was eating very fresh vegetables. Nearly the entire dish came back home with me -- so much more than anyone could possibly eat. I highly recommend this restaurant. We intend to go back often, and both doubt we'll bother with any other local place! Extremely friendly service, also! And BYOB
(4)Zachary F.
I never dined in so far but the atmosphere is nice. Inconsistent food. Since it's the closest place, I ordered take-out here weekly over the past summer and fall. Been served bamboo shoots that already went bad. Sometimes the rolls are really excellent and fresh, other times they are way overfried. Sometimes, I order a dish I had 5 times before, and they put in 2-3x amount of the hot stuff that was in their before, or skimp on the meat. They need some more quality control in this area. They specialize in hot (spicy) food, although I think it's overdone to simply make it hotter without any mind given to improving the flavor. Otherwise it's fine for that niche and I like hot food personally but many people can't stomach their specialties for that reason. My brother ordered something I consider relatively mild and couldn't finish 1/4 of it because it was too spicy for him - so keep that in mind if you have guests. I would skip it for regular 'Americanized' chinese, they don't seem to want to serve their stated menu half the time either. I called several times wanting to eat something from their website menu (like moo shu pork) only to be told they don't make it. For takeout, the food is always made promptly, with the typical soy/duck sauce (check your bag - sometimes they forget this), and really bland rice which is typical and I can't fault them on that and probably serves to mild the hot foods. Edit 6/30/2012 I went to this place twice several months ago and it was really just nasty one of those times and meh the other. Knocked off a star. I'm open to new cuisine, I think, and I don't order the American stuff, but experimenting here is both expensive and unrewarding imo. From 3 stars to 2.
(2)